dulcimer
Americannoun
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Also called hammer dulcimer. Also called hammered dulcimer;. a trapezoidal zither with metal strings that are struck with light hammers.
noun
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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
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an instrument used in US folk music, consisting of an elliptical body, a fretted fingerboard, and usually three strings plucked with a goose quill
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”; see 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.
Vocabulary lists containing dulcimer
Music to My Ears: Instrumental Vocab
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Musical Instruments - Middle School
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Musical Instruments - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The most musically adventurous member of the group — he plays sitar on “Paint It Black” and dulcimer on “Lady Jane” — Jones wasn’t a songwriter.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
Santoor is a trapezoid-shaped stringed musical instrument, similar to a dulcimer, which is played with mallets.
From BBC • Jul. 26, 2025
“Desire” has Bono high in his falsetto against a strummy dulcimer and the effect is hypnotic.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
