a stringed musical instrument of ancient Greece and elsewhere, similar to the lyre and played with a plectrum
Word origin
C18: from Greek kithara
kithara in American English
(ˈkɪθərə)
noun
a musical instrument of ancient Greece consisting of an elaborate wooden soundbox having two arms connected by a yoke to which the upper ends of the strings are attached
Also: cithara
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME ‹ Gk kithára lyre; cf. guitar, zither]This word is first recorded in the period 1350–1400. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: index, kick, screen, train, tune