Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Word of the Day

psaltery \SAWL-tuh-ree\,
noun:
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.

Louise returned to her chair, and Eugénie took her psaltery from the floor, sat down and began to play.
-- Charles Gill, "The Rich Woods," 2008

Then she heard music from beyond the arbor walk, a lighthearted turn on a psaltery...
-- Margaret Frazer, "The Murderer's Tale," 1996

Psaltery came to English in the 14th century from the Greek psalterion meaning "stringed instrument."

Dictionary.com Word of the Day