zither

[ zith-er, zith- ]

noun

1. a musical instrument, consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings stretched over it, that is placed on a horizontal surface and played with a plectrum and the fingertips.

zither

/ ˈzɪðə /

noun

1. a plucked musical instrument consisting of numerous strings stretched over a resonating box, a few of which may be stopped on a fretted fingerboard

Derived Forms

• ˈzitherist, noun

Other Words From

• zither·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of zither¹

1840–50; < German < Latin cithara < Greek kithárá; kithara

Word History and Origins

Origin of zither¹

C19: from German, from Latin cithara, from Greek kithara

Example Sentences

Then, after a long wait, a man begins to play a song on a zither-like instrument, singing an exotic, warbling tune.

From The Daily Beast

And because we have heard the great organ at Freiburg, shall the sound of Kathi's zither in the alpine hut please us no more?

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes he would call upon Blanquette to accompany him on her almost forgotten zither.

From Project Gutenberg

Every hand was in view, and yet the zither continued to play its weird and wistful little tune.

From Project Gutenberg

After a long and painful silence the bell tinkled faintly, and as all listened breathlessly the zither began to play.

From Project Gutenberg

Silent, open-mouthed, staring, Stinchfield heard the zither descend to the table before him.

From Project Gutenberg