Where does “gittern” come from?

gittern (English) comes 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.

gittern (English): A small, quill-plucked, gut-strung musical...

Definitions

A small, quill-plucked, gut-strung musical...

Ancestry of “gittern”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Middle English	giterne	gittern medieval musical instrument
2	Old French	guiterne	—
3	Old Spanish	guitarra	classical guitar
4	Arabic	قِيثَارَة	—
5	Latin	cithara	cithara, lyre, lute, guitar; guitar
6	Ancient Greek	κιθάρα	lyre; the ribs of the horse; ivy

Words derived from “gittern”

cittern
citternist
zittern

Every word from Ancient Greek κιθάρα →Every word from Latin cithara →Every word from Arabic قِيثَارَة →