CultureJuly 17, 2026

lute

/luːt/

Definition

A stringed musical instrument with a long neck and a rounded, pear-shaped body that is plucked with the fingers.

Etymology

The word originates from the Old French 'lut' and the Arabic 'al-ʿūd,' meaning 'the wood.' It entered English through various medieval European languages, eventually describing a wide family of plucked instruments.

In the news

In this article, the lute specifically refers to the 'sape,' a traditional boat-shaped instrument central to the indigenous Orang Ulu communities of Borneo. The festival was founded in part to help preserve and showcase this cultural treasure.

Between mountain and sea, ASEAN’s music evolves

Read the full article ↗

Asia News Network

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