dulcimer
UK[ˈdʌlsɪmə]US[ˈdʌlsɪmər]
n
A musical instrument with strings stretched over a flat sounding board, played by striking the strings with small hammers.
Etymology
The word 'dulcimer' entered English in the late 15th century from the Old French 'doucemer'. The French term itself was a blend, combining the Latin root 'dulcis' (meaning 'sweet') with the Greek root 'melos' (meaning 'song'). This hybrid name, meaning "sweet song," was likely influenced by the Latin phrase 'dulce melos'. The instrument's designation reflects its characteristic pleasant, chiming sound, a quality that was directly described by its name upon its introduction to Europe from the Middle East, where a similar instrument, the Persian 'santur', originated.
Analysis
The word is a loanword borrowed as a single unit. Its components, 'dulci-' (sweet) and '-mer' (song), are from Latin and Greek respectively, but they are not independent morphemes in modern English spelling and cannot be productively segmented from 'dulcimer'.
Examples
The musician played a haunting melody on the hammered dulcimer.
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument distinct from its hammered counterpart.
The clear, resonant tones of the dulcimer filled the concert hall.