Santur
/sænˈtʊər/noun
A trapezoidal Persian and Middle Eastern string instrument played by striking its strings with lightweight wooden mallets.
Did you know?Although its linguistic ancestor referred to a plucked-string instrument, the modern santur is typically played by striking its strings with mallets.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
psaltērion
“A plucked stringed instrument; the source traditionally associated with the later name of the santur”
Late Antiquity
Greek
psaltērion
“A string instrument whose name derives from psallein, “to pluck or play a stringed instrument””
Medieval Period
Arabic
ṣanṭūr
“A dulcimer-like string instrument; an Arabic form connected with the Persian instrument name”
Medieval Persian
Persian
santur / santūr
“A trapezoidal hammered dulcimer used in Persian musical traditions”
Modern English
English
santur
“A Persian or Middle Eastern hammered dulcimer”