zither

American  

[zith-er, zith-] / ˈzɪθ ər, ˈzɪð- /

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.

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zither British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• zitherist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of zither

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

Compare meaning

How does zither compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• zither vs. Autoharp

Explanation

A zither is a musical instrument, kind of like a guitar without the neck and way more strings. You play a zither by strumming or plucking the strings with your fingers or a pick. Zither comes from the same root word as guitar — the Greek word kithara for "lute.” They’re all stringed instruments, but a zither’s strings go across the sound box. An Autoharp is a kind of zither, so if you've played an Autoharp, you've played a zither. Zithers are often used in European folk music, and have about 30-40 strings. Originally, the zither was an Austrian instrument, but it’s been used in England since the mid-1850s.

Example Sentences

The fact that "Zither" was at least recorded, if not written, in a giant locker room's bathroom, in an anonymous arena somewhere, it's just something different.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2021

The first American Zither Congress was held in 1912 in Washington, Mo., home of the Franz Schwarzer Zither Co., largest U. S. zither makers.

From Time Magazine Archive

There last week the United Zither Players of America gathered for its Tenth National Congress and, proudly led by the Rochester Zither Club, climaxed a three-day meeting with a grand plinkety-plink concert.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was on the evening before his departure, as he wished still once to visit the Lei and offer to the Nymph of the Rhine his Sighs, the tones of his Zither, and his Songs.

From A Tramp Abroad — Volume 03 by Twain, Mark

The Drewitz Heath, the Massin or Zither Heath, and others about Zorndorf, will become notable to us.

From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18 by Carlyle, Thomas