Where does “dulcimer” come from?
Dulcimer derives from Old French doulcemelle, from Latin dulce melos meaning sweet song, from Ancient Greek μέλος meaning song, from Proto-Indo-European mel- and mey-.
dulcimer (English): A stringed instrument, with strings stretched...
Definitions
- A stringed instrument, with strings stretched...
Ancestry of “dulcimer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | doulcemelle | A type of musical instrument. Its exact nature is... |
| 2 | Latin | dulce melos | sweet song |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | μέλος | part of a body, limb, member, part; part of a... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |