[a. F. chanterelle, It. cantarella treble string of a musical instrument, bird-call, call-bird, f. cantāre to sing.]
† 1. A decoy bird. (In quot. A female partridge used as a decoy.) Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 289. Forth they goe against the foulers chanterell or watch which calleth them out.
ǁ 2. (See quot.)
1879. Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 135/1. The chanterelle or melody-string [in the banjo] is called from its position and use the thumbstring. Ibid., II. 176. Making thirteen strings in all [for the lute), the highest, or Chanterelle, being a single string.
