In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
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
Recent Word Finds
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28 May 2025
AIR
(noun) a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; “an air of mystery”; “the house had a neglected air”; “an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate’s headquarters”; “the place had an aura of romance”
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