psaltery
Americannoun
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psalteries
plural
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an ancient musical instrument consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings which are plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum.
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(initial capital letter) the Psalter.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of psaltery
1300–50; Middle English sautrie < Middle French sauter(i)e < Late Latin psaltērium; see Psalter
Vocabulary lists containing psaltery
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.
See Examples For:
They cite Joachim of Fiore, a 12th-century theologian, who conceived of the Trinity as a three-sided psaltery with 10 strings and a central sound hole representing God.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
When possible, they stuffed their 150-lb. psaltery, dulcimer, fiddles, banjos, guitars, buckskin drums and camping equipment into and on top of their Volkswagen and toured the mountain towns and country fairs.
From Time Magazine Archive
Along with lonely exponents of the virginal, the psaltery and the oboe d'amore, there are 166 violinists, 88 organists, 73 harpsichordists, 64 flautists and 56 cellists listed, each count a statistical gain over 1960.
From Time Magazine Archive
Beers's grandfather taught him to play the psaltery, but his real ambition was to be a concert violinist.
From Time Magazine Archive
Your father’s mantle awaits you, that you may praise the Lord with psaltery and song.
From Jeremiah A Drama in Nine Scenes by Stefan Zweig
He brought a bit of everything with him: lutes, gambas, hurdy-gurdies, psalteries, fancy carved music stands and even a serpent, an old wind instrument that looks like its namesake.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2011
Once, he had carried Robin to another part of the monastery, and showed him where records of everyday living were written and poems and psalteries copied.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
They go to actors' schools with sambucas and psalteries.
From The Gracchi Marius and Sulla Epochs of Ancient History by A.H. Beesley
With the last year's brand Light the new block, and For good success in his spending, On your psalteries play, That sweet luck may Come while the log is a-teending.
From Christmas Its Origin, Celebration and Significance as Related in Prose and Verse by Robert Haven Schauffler
One hundred and twenty of these were trumpeters, the rest had cymbals, harps, and psalteries.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 01 by John Rudd
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