Santours

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of traditional stringed instrument from the Middle East, typically played with mallets and featuring a trapezoidal shape
2. A musical device characterized by strings stretched over a frame, producing sound when struck with hammers
3. An instrument known for its resonant tones, often used in folk music, blending melodically with various genres

Etymology: "Santours" is the plural of "santour," a hammered stringed instrument. The singular form, "santour," came into English from Persian (where the instrument is called "santur"), and the word passed through Arabic before reaching European languages. The plural is the form English speakers most often encounter, since ensembles and orchestras tend to feature several of these instruments together.

Synonyms: santur, hammered dulcimer, string instrument, zither, psaltery