Ap·pa·la·chi·an dulcimer (āp'ə-lā'chē-ən, -chən, -lāch'ē-ən, -lāch'ən) n. See dulcimer.
dul·ci·mer (dŭl'sə-mər) n.
A narrow, often hourglass-shaped stringed instrument having three or four strings and a fretted fingerboard, typically held flat across the knees while sitting and played by plucking or strumming. Also called Appalachian dulcimer, mountain dulcimer.
The hammered dulcimer.
[Alteration (influenced by Latin dulcis, sweet) of Middle English doucemer, from Old French doulcemer, doulcemele, probably from Latin dulce melos, sweet song : dulce, neuter of dulcis, sweet + melos, song (from Greek melos).]