Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “cistre” come from?

cistre (French) comes from Middle French citre, from Vulgar Latin cithera, from Latin cithara, from Ancient Greek κιθάρα — lyre; the ribs of the horse; ivy.

cistre (French): cittern

Definitions

  1. cittern

Ancestry of “cistre”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchcitre—
2Vulgar Latincithera—
3Latincitharacithara, lyre, lute, guitar; guitar
4Ancient Greekκιθάραlyre; the ribs of the horse; ivy
Every word from Ancient Greek κιθάρα →