psaltery

American  

[sawl-tuh-ree] / ˈsɔl tə ri /

noun

PLURAL

psalteries

1. an ancient musical instrument consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings which are plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum.

2. (initial capital letter)  the Psalter.

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psaltery British  

/ ˈsɔːltərɪ /

noun

1. music an ancient stringed instrument similar to the lyre, but having a trapezoidal sounding board over which the strings are stretched

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Etymology

Origin of psaltery

1300–50; Middle English sautrie < Middle French sauter(i)e < Late Latin psaltērium; Psalter

Example Sentences

Thus did I fulfil my vow, and we brought you up to read the scripture, and sweetly did you sing to the psaltery.

From Project Gutenberg

What, false knave, did I buy thee a fire new psaltery to be minded o' my latter end withal?

From Project Gutenberg

Among the Russians, the gusli is an instrument of a different type, a kind of psaltery having five or more strings stretched across a flat, shallow sound-chest in the shape of a wing.

From Project Gutenberg

Or else the seraphim would call: "Minstrels, your dulcimers let fall And break the silvern psalteries!"

From Project Gutenberg

O sound of the psaltery under the vine Grown in the garden!

From Project Gutenberg