What does psaltery mean?
A psaltery is an ancient or medieval stringed instrument played by plucking or, in some historical forms, striking its strings. Its strings were stretched across a soundboard, often over a hollow or box-like body, and the player could use the fingers, a plectrum, or small quills. The instrument existed in forms across the ancient Mediterranean, Europe, and Asia, but it is best known today from literary, archaeological, and musical-historical contexts. In modern English, “psaltery” is more likely to identify a reconstructed historical instrument than an instrument encountered in ordinary musical performance. Although its name resembles that of a psalter, a psalter is principally a book of the Psalms, whereas a psaltery is an instrument. The word is useful because it names a distinctive bridge between ancient string technique, sacred musical traditions, and the scholarly reconstruction of historic music.
nounAn ancient or medieval stringed instrument whose strings are stretched over a soundboard and played by plucking or, in some variants, striking them with small quills or plectra.
- An ancient or medieval stringed instrument played by plucking its strings or striking them with small quills.
"The medieval minstrel played a psaltery as the company gathered around the fire."
"A reconstruction of the psaltery was displayed beside the manuscript."
"She learned to play the psaltery while studying medieval music."
The standard plural adds -ies to form psalteries.
"Several reconstructed psalteries were displayed at the exhibition."
The psaltery is the musical ancestor behind a familiar name: a psalter was originally a singer or a book of sacred songs, not merely a psalm book.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does psaltery come from?
The word comes through Old French psalterie and Latin psalterium from Greek psaltērion, a term associated with psallein, “to pluck strings.” It belongs to a wider Greek and Latin vocabulary connected with psalmos, a sung poem or sacred song, which developed into English “psalm” and “psalter.” The musical sense reflects the instrument’s historical relationship with sung and sacred music.
How psaltery is actually used
The word is chiefly historical, literary, or specialist rather than everyday. It describes instruments of several cultures and periods, so the precise construction and playing technique may vary by context.
Easily confused with psaltery
A psaltery is a musical instrument, whereas a psalter is a book containing the Psalms, originally accompanied by singing.