Dulcimer
/ˈdʌl.sɪ.mər/noun
A stringed musical instrument with a resonant body, struck with small hammers or plucked.
Did you know?Dulcimer comes through Old French from Latin *dulcis* (“sweet”), the same root behind English words like *dulcet* and *dulce*, so its name was built around the idea of pleasing, honeyed sound.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰelgʷ-
“to be sweet, pleasing”
Latin
Latin
dulcis
“sweet, pleasant”
Late Latin
Latin
dulcēdō
“sweetness, delight”
Old French
Old French
doucimer / doulçimer
“a musical instrument or sweet-sounding instrument”
Middle English
English
dulcimer
“a musical instrument with strings struck or plucked”
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