Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

psaltery

noun
psal·​tery | \ˈsäl-t(ə-)rē, ˈsȯl-\
variants: or less commonly psaltry
plural psalteries also psaltries

Definition of psaltery 

: an ancient musical instrument resembling the zither

First Known Use of psaltery

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for psaltery

Middle English psalterie, from Anglo-French, from Latin psalterium, from Greek psaltērion, from psallein to play on a stringed instrument

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about psaltery

Dictionary Entries near psaltery

psalterial

psalterion

psalterium

psaltery

psaltress

psamm-

psammite

Statistics for psaltery

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for psaltery

The first known use of psaltery was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

More from Merriam-Webster on psaltery

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with psaltery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about psaltery

Comments on psaltery

What made you want to look up psaltery? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

zibeline

a soft lustrous wool fabric with mohair

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Late Autumn 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

  • frosted-autumn-leaves
  • Which is a synonym of yahoo?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games