dulcimer

American  

[duhl-suh-mer] / ˈdʌl sə mər /

noun

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

2. Appalachian dulcimer.

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dulcimer British  

/ ˈdʌlsɪmə /

noun

1. 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

2. 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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Etymology

Origin of dulcimer

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

Explanation

A dulcimer is a stringed instrument used mainly in American folk music. It has three strings, and a fretted fingerboard like a guitar. Like a banjo, the dulcimer is a stringed instrument which is played like a guitar, with a pick or your fingers. Like a guitar, the strings are strummed with one hand while the strings are held down with the other hand on a fretted fingerboard. The dulcimer has an elliptical shape that's very distinctive. There is also a type of dulcimer played by striking it with little hammers. Both kinds of dulcimers make a light, sweet sound.

Example Sentences

It's named after the Farsi word for "my darling" and features an ear-tingling riff on the santur - a hammered dulcimer of Iranian origin.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

In the novel, formatted to echo sacred texts in its “tellings,” eight main characters include Risa McKeig, a Sanskrit student, and Lorilee Shay, who plays the mountain dulcimer.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2023

He sticks primarily to keyboards, acoustic guitar and dulcimer.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2023

But throughout his career he showed a knack for wringing emotion not only from the violin, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer and autoharp, but also from the Indian tanpura, the Middle Eastern oud and the Turkish saz.

From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2023

I could only deny it and say, quite honestly, that I didn’t even know what a dulcimer was.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt