dulcimer

Musical instrument, a form of zither, consisting of a shallow open trapezoidal soundbox across which strings are stretched laterally; they are horizontally struck by lightweight hammers or beaters. It produces clearly differentiated pitches of consistent quality and is more agile and wide-ranging in pitch than the harp or lyre. In Hungary the dulcimer is known as a cimbalom, and is a national instrument.

Of Middle Eastern origin, the dulcimer spread into Europe about 1100 and was introduced to China and Korea about 1800. Examples include the Iraqi santir, Chinese yang shin, Russian chang, Korean yangum, and Swiss hackbrett.

It is also an oval-shaped stringed instrument of the Appalachian Mountains that is played in the lap or on a surface by plucking the strings with a quill or plectrum.