1. Plural of cithern; stringed musical instruments similar to a zither or lute, popular in Renaissance Europe.
Usage: historical; musical instrument

Examples

• The museum's collection included several citherns from the 16th century.
• Renaissance musicians often played citherns alongside lutes and viols.
• The citherns in the orchestra provided a bright, plucked sound.
• Historical records show that citherns were popular among both nobility and common folk.
• The craftsman specialized in building citherns with intricate wooden inlays.