psaltery

[ sawl-tuh-ree ]

/ ˈsɔl tə ri /

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

(initial capital letter) the Psalter.

Origin of psaltery

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

The trumpeters with their trumpets take their places, and the psaltery and the harp are brought forth.

The Harp of God |J. F. Rutherford
Margaret lingered behind, cast her eye rapidly round the furniture, and selected the Vulgate and the psaltery.

The Cloister and the Hearth |Charles Reade
This was the psaltery and the dulcimer of the Assyrians and the Hebrews.

Inventions in the Century |William Henry Doolittle
The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version |Various

It had driven him to hunt the psaltery stick, repent his lie to Garry and water the fern.

Kenny |Leona Dalrymple

psaltery

/ (ˈsɔːltərɪ) /

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

Old English: see Psalter