dulcimer

[duhl-suh-mer]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Also called hammer dulcimer.��Also called hammered dulcimer;.��a trapezoidal zither with metal strings that are struck with light hammers.
Appalachian dulcimer.

dulcimer

/ ˈ��ʌ��ɪ��ə /

noun

a tuned percussion instrument consisting of a set of strings of graduated length stretched over a sounding board and struck with a pair of hammers
an instrument used in US folk music, consisting of an elliptical body, a fretted fingerboard, and usually three strings plucked with a goose quill

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dulcimer¹

First recorded in 1560–70; alteration of Middle English dowcemere, from Middle French doulcemer, dissimilated variant of doulcemele, from Old Italian dolcimelo, dolzemele, from Latin dulce melos “sweet song”; dulcet, melic

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dulcimer¹

C15: from Old French doulcemer, from Old Italian dolcimelo, from dolce sweet, from Latin dulcis + -melo, perhaps from Greek melos song

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The wall with dulcimers from the ’70s, the paintings on the doorways — it was just unbelievable as a huge Joni fan.

From

He sticks primarily to keyboards, acoustic guitar and dulcimer.

From

Naval Academy’s fight song — on a hammered dulcimer on her lap in hopes that the breeze would somehow carry the melody to the Carters.

From

The full story of Brian Jones’s stolen dulcimer can be told.

From

By now, this was the most famous dulcimer in Washington, its theft mentioned not only in the Star but, in Mike’s recollection, on local TV, too.

From

dulcify dulcinea

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