gittern

American  

[git-ern] / ˈgɪt ərn /

noun

1. cittern.

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gittern British  

/ ˈɡɪtɜːn /

noun

1. music an obsolete medieval stringed instrument resembling the guitar Compare cittern

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Etymology

Origin of gittern

C14: from Old French guiterne, ultimately from Old Spanish guitarra _guitar ; see _cittern

Example Sentences

He hung the gittern upon its peg, then went across to the Admiral and put both hands upon his shoulders.

From Sir Mortimer by Johnston, Mary

I can only suppose that the author considers that the fact of the gittern and citole being sounded by plucking the strings, brings these instruments into alliance with the harp. 

From Springtime and Other Essays by Darwin, Francis, Sir

The following were the names of the instruments: cittern, bagpipe, clarion, rebec, psaltery, syrinx, sackbut, regals, gittern, shalm, timbral, and cymbals!

From From John O'Groats to Land's End by Naylor, Robert

"Nay, my lord, rather let me try the gittern," she said.

From Historic Boys Their Endeavours, Their Achievements, and Their Times by Brooks, Elbridge Streeter

It was the practice, as we have said, when a customer was waiting for his turn in a barber's shop to pass his time playing on the gittern.

From At the Sign of the Barber's Pole Studies In Hirsute History by Andrews, William