Psalt

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. An archaic term meaning to play a stringed instrument such as the psaltery by plucking its strings
2. Archaic verb describing the act of sounding a plucked stringed instrument, especially a psaltery, with the fingers
3. Old-fashioned word for playing a psaltery or similar harp-like instrument by striking or plucking its strings

Etymology: In ancient Greek, "psallein" meant to pluck or twang a string, used of bowstrings as well as lyres and harps. Its Latin descendant, "psaltare", kept the musical sense, and it is the direct source of this English verb, meaning to play a stringed instrument by plucking its strings. The same Greek root gave English several words that look quite different. "Psalmos" meant a song sung to the accompaniment of a plucked instrument. It passed through Latin "psalmus" and Old English "psealm" to become the word for a sacred song. "Psalter", a book of psalms, and "psaltery", a plucked zither-like instrument, both descend from "psalterion", another Greek derivative of the same verb. This verb keeps the original instrumental sense that the others have shifted away from.