citole
Definition
Noun: - A 16th-century musical instrument with a pear-shaped body and wire strings, considered a forerunner to the guitar.
Usage
- The term "citole" is used exclusively as a historical noun to refer to this specific early stringed instrument. It is primarily encountered in academic, historical, or musical contexts discussing medieval or Renaissance instruments.
Examples
- The museum's collection features a beautifully preserved citole from the late Renaissance.
- Scholars debate whether the citole was plucked with a plectrum or the fingers.
- In the manuscript, the minstrel is depicted holding a citole.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Classification: In organology (the study of musical instruments), the citole is often classified within the chordophone family and is noted for its distinctive construction that bridges earlier instruments and the later guitar.
Variants and Related Words
- Cittern (noun): A later, related instrument from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, also with wire strings and a pear-shaped body, which evolved from the citole.
- Gittern (noun): Another medieval stringed instrument, sometimes confused with or related to the citole.
Synonyms
- Historical synonyms: None are exact, but it can be described as a medieval/early Renaissance stringed instrument or a precursor to the guitar.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs using "citole," as it is a highly specific historical term.
Noun
-
a 16th century musical instrument resembling a guitar with a pear-shaped soundbox and wire strings
