Main Entry: dul·ci·mer

Pronunciation: \ˈdəl-sə-mər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English dowcemere, from Middle French doulcemer, from Old Italian dolcimelo, from dolce sweet, from Latin dulcis

Date: 15th century

1 : a stringed instrument of trapezoidal shape played with light hammers held in the hands
2or dul·ci·more \-ˌmȯr\ : an American folk instrument with three or four strings stretched over an elongate fretted sound box that is held on the lap and played by plucking or strumming