cittern

English

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cittern

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• cither
• cithern, cithren
• zittern

Etymology

Blend of cither +‎ gittern.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪtən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪtəɹn/
• Rhymes: -ɪtə(ɹ)n

Noun

cittern (plural citterns)

1. 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.
   • 1661 January 17, Samuel Pepys, Diary of Samuel Pepys: January 1661:

     This discourse took us much time, till it was time to go to bed; but we being merry, we bade my Lady goodnight, and intended to have gone to the Post-house to drink, and hear a pretty girl play of the cittern (and indeed we should have lain there, but by a mistake we did not), but it was late, and we could not hear her, and the guard came to examine what we were; so we returned to our Inn and to bed, the page and I in one bed, and the two captains in another, all in one chamber, where we had very good mirth with our most abominable lodging.

   • 1911, Cittern, article in Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition,

     The cittern consisted of a pear-shaped body similar to that of the lute but with a flat back and sound-board joined by ribs. The neck was provided with a fretted fingerboard; the head was curved and surmounted by a grotesque head of a woman or of an animal.

   • 1911, “Guitar”, in Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition:

     The advent of the Spanish guitar in England led to the wane in the popularity of the cittern, also known at that time in contradistinction as the English or wire-strung guitar, although the two instruments differed in many particulars.

   • 2000, Musical Instruments Museum, Visitor's Guide‎, page 93:

     Antwerp was world-famous for its harpsichords, but it was also a centre, in the 16th century, where citterns, lutes, viols and later violins were constructed with skill.

Hyponyms

• ceterone

Derived terms

• cittern-head
• citternist

Translations

instrument similar to a mandolin

Catalan: cistre (ca) m Finnish: sisteri (fi) French: cistre (fr) m Hindi: किन्नर (hi) m (kinnar) Ido: citaro (io) Irish: siotaran m Russian: ци́стра (ru) f (cístra) Sanskrit: किन्नर (sa) m (kinnara) Spanish: cistro m

See also

• Appendix:Glossary of chordophones

References

• 2013. Performance Practice: A Dictionary-Guide for Musicians. Roland Jackson. Pg. 90.

Anagrams

• Critten