ZITHER

zither, cither, zithern

(noun) a musical stringed instrument with strings stretched over a flat sounding board; it is laid flat and played with a plectrum and with fingers

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

zither (plural zithers)

(music) A musical instrument consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings placed on a horizontal surface, played with a plectrum or fingertips.

(music, translations) Related or similar instruments in other cultures, such as the Chinese guqin or Norwegian harpeleik; especially any chordophone without a neck, and with strings that pass over the body.

Verb

zither (third-person singular simple present zithers, present participle zithering, simple past and past participle zithered)

To play a zither.

To make a sound similar to that made by a zither; to move while making such a sound.

Source: Wiktionary

Zith"er, n. Etym: [G. zither. See Cittern.] (Mus.)

Definition: An instrument of music used in Austria and Germany. It has from thirty to forty wires strung across a shallow sounding-board, which lies horizontally on a table before the performer, who uses both hands in playing on it.

Note: [Not to be confounded with the old lute-shaped cittern, or cithern.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition