Where does “cittern” come from?
cittern (English) comes from English gittern, from Middle English giterne, from Old French guiterne, from Old Spanish guitarra, from Arabic قِيثَارَة, from Latin cithara, from Ancient Greek κιθάρα — lyre; the ribs of the horse; ivy.
cittern (English): A stringed instrument , played with a plectrum ,...
Definitions
- A stringed instrument , played with a plectrum ,...
Ancestry of “cittern”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | gittern | A small, quill-plucked, gut-strung musical... |
| 2 | Middle English | giterne | — |
| 3 | Old French | guiterne | — |
| 4 | Old Spanish | guitarra | — |
| 5 | Arabic | قِيثَارَة | — |
| 6 | Latin | cithara | cithara, lyre, lute, guitar; guitar |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | κιθάρα | lyre; the ribs of the horse; ivy |
Words derived from “cittern”