Citoles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An early type of stringed instrument resembling a lute or guitar with a flat body and frets
2. A musical device played by plucking the strings, commonly used in medieval Europe
3. A term referring to a historical instrument that contributes to the family of plucked string instruments prevalent in earlier musical traditions

Etymology: The term "citoles" refers to a family of medieval stringed instruments that were popular in Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries. These instruments are considered predecessors to the modern guitar and lute, and their name carries a trace of the linguistic and cultural exchanges of the medieval period. The word itself likely derives from Old French "citole," which appeared in medieval texts to denote this particular type of plucked instrument. The Old French term may have its roots in the Latin "cithara," a term borrowed from the Greek "kithara," an ancient lyre-like instrument. This lineage highlights a continuity in naming stringed instruments across centuries, adapting classical terms to new forms and styles. The citole was characterized by a flat, often hollowed-out wooden body with a varying number of strings, played with a plectrum or fingers. Its use was widespread among troubadours and minstrels, who favored it for accompanying songs and poetry. The instrument's shape and construction evolved over time, influencing the development of other plucked string instruments. By the late Middle Ages, the citole gradually gave way to the gittern and eventually the Renaissance guitar. The term itself fell out of common usage as musical tastes and instrument designs shifted. However, the word "citole" preserves a snapshot of medieval musical culture and the continuum between ancient and modern stringed instruments.

Synonyms: stringed instruments, medieval guitars, lutes, vihuelas, mandolas