oud
UK[uːd]US[uːd]
n
A pear-shaped, stringed musical instrument of the lute family, used especially in Middle Eastern and North African music.
Etymology
The oud is a foundational instrument whose name traveled with it across cultures. It entered English in the mid-18th century directly from Arabic, where 'al-ʿūd' literally means "the wood," referring to the instrument's wooden soundbox. This Arabic term can be traced further back to the Persian 'rūd', meaning "string" or "lute," highlighting the instrument's defining characteristic. The oud's historical journey from Persia through the Arab world profoundly influenced the development of European lute-family instruments, with the very word "lute" itself evolving from the Arabic definite article 'al-' prefixed to 'ʿūd'.
Analysis
The word 'oud' is a simplex loanword. It is borrowed directly from Arabic, where it is written as العود (al-ʿūd), meaning "the wood" or "the stick." The Arabic term itself is derived from the Persian word 'rūd', which means "string," "stringed instrument," or "lute."
Examples
The musician skillfully plucked the strings of the oud, filling the room with a melancholic melody.
Traditional Arabic music often features the oud as a central solo and accompaniment instrument.
He learned to play the oud to connect more deeply with his cultural heritage.