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Hammered dulcimer

 - 4 dictionary results

dul⋅ci⋅mer

[duhl-suh-mer]
–noun
1. Also called hammered dulcimer, hammer dulcimer. a trapezoidal zither with metal strings that are struck with light hammers.
2. a modern folk instrument related to the guitar and plucked with the fingers.

Origin:
1560–70; alter. of ME dowcemere < MF doulcemer, dissimilated var. of doulcemele < OIt dolcimelo, dolzemele < L dulce melos sweet song. See dulcet, melic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Hammered dulcimer
hammered dulcimer or hammer dulcimer  
n.  A musical instrument with wire strings of graduated lengths stretched over a sound box, played by striking with two padded hammers.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dulcimer 
c.1474, from M.Fr. doulce mer, var. of doulcemele, probably from doulz de mer, said to represent L. dulce "sweet" + melos "song," from Gk. melos "melody."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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