CultureJuly 26, 2026

dulcimer

DUL-si-mer

Definition

A musical instrument of the zither family, typically having a wooden sound box and metal strings that are plucked or struck.

Etymology

The word comes from the Old French 'dolcemelle', which was derived from the Latin 'dulcis' (sweet) and Greek 'melos' (song), reflecting the instrument's pleasant tone.

In the news

In this article, the dulcimer is listed as one of the traditional instruments used in Kentucky's musical history, highlighting the folk roots being explored by the professor. It is significant because it represents the specific, historic instrumentation of Appalachian musical heritage.

Museum to host traditional Appalachian music

Read the full article ↗

irontontribune.com

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.