1. an ancient stringed musical instrument played by plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum
Usage: historical; musical instrument

Examples

• The medieval musician played a haunting melody on his psaltery.
• Ancient psalteries were often triangular or trapezoidal in shape.
• She learned to play the psaltery as part of her early music studies.
• The psaltery was a popular instrument in medieval European courts.
• Archaeological evidence shows psalteries were used in ancient civilizations.
• The strings of a psaltery are typically made of metal or gut.