Where does “zittern” come from?
zittern (English) comes from English cittern, 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.
zittern (English): Alternative form of cittern
Definitions
- Alternative form of cittern
Ancestry of “zittern”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | cittern | A stringed instrument (chordophone), played with a plectrum (a pick), and most commonly possessing four wire strings and chromatic frets, which is a precursor to the modern day guitar |
| 2 | English | gittern | A small, quill-plucked, gut-strung musical... |
| 3 | Middle English | giterne | gittern medieval musical instrument |
| 4 | Old French | guiterne | — |
| 5 | Old Spanish | guitarra | classical guitar |
| 6 | Arabic | قِيثَارَة | — |
| 7 | Latin | cithara | cithara, lyre, lute, guitar; guitar |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | κιθάρα | lyre; the ribs of the horse; ivy |