dulcimer
noun
A musical instrument with strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board, played by striking with hammers; an Appalachian folk instrument played by plucking.
Etymology
From Old French doulcemer, from Latin dulce melos meaning "sweet song," from dulcis (sweet) + melos (song, melody).
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The dulcimer's sweet tones echoed through the mountain hollow."
- 2.
"She learned to play the Appalachian dulcimer from her grandmother."
- 3.
"The hammered dulcimer has roots in ancient Persian music."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The hammered dulcimer may be the ancestor of the piano. Both use hammers striking strings, but the piano added a keyboard mechanism to automate the striking process.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 8 letters (D, U, L, C, I, M, E, R)
Scrabble Value: 13 points
Tip: Look for common letter combinations like "DU" at the start of words.
Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!
Ready to find words like "dulcimer" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!