[Turkish zil, cymbals, probably (perhaps via Armenian zil, highest-pitched pair of strings on an oud) from Persian zīr, highest-pitched pair of strings on an oud, shrill sound, probably from Arabizing alteration of Persian zēr, under, below (in reference to the fact that when a player holds an oud to be played, the bottom pair of strings is tuned the highest), from Middle Persian azēr, under, below : az, from, out of (from Old Iranian hačā; see sek^w-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + ēr, down, below (from Old Iranian aδara-, lower; see dher- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]