cittern

2 definitions found

cittern - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Cittern \Cit"tern\, n. [L.cithara, Gr. kiqa`ra. Cf. Cithara,
     Gittern.] (Mus.)
     An instrument shaped like a lute, but strung with wire and
     played with a quill or plectrum. [Written also cithern.]
     --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Not to be confounded with zither.
           [1913 Webster]

cittern - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  cittern
      n 1: a 16th century musical instrument resembling a guitar with
           a pear-shaped soundbox and wire strings [syn: cittern,
           cithern, cither, citole, gittern]