Psalter

American  

[sawl-ter] / ˈsɔl tər /

noun

1. the Biblical book of Psalms.

2. (sometimes lowercase) a psalmbook.

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Psalter British  

/ ˈsɔːltə /

noun

1. another name for Psalms, esp in the version in the Book of Common Prayer

2. a translation, musical, or metrical version of the Psalms

3. a devotional or liturgical book containing a version of Psalms, often with a musical setting

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Etymology

Origin of Psalter

before 900; < Late Latin psaltērium the Psalter, Latin: a psaltery < Greek psaltḗrion stringed instrument; replacing Middle English sauter (< Anglo-French < Late Latin ) and Old English saltere (< Late Latin, as above)

Example Sentences

The show includes a fragment from the 1459 Mainz Psalter, the second-oldest dated piece of printing from movable type in the West.

From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2022

The Breeches Edition recently returned to Pittsburgh also had an attached hymnal known as a metrical Psalter - the book of Psalms set to musical notation, he said.

From Washington Times • May 11, 2019

French dictionaries trace "empêcher", meaning to prevent or hinder, back to an Anglo-Norman Psalter of the 12th Century.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2016

The Psalter, then,  affirms both  the communion-seeking and kingdom- seeking kinds of prayer.

From MSNBC • Nov. 7, 2014

Of course there is no Psalm 166; the Psalter stops with 150.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom