Also 7 cyther, 9 cithar. [Cf. F. cithare (14th c.), also mod.Ger. cither, zither, ad. L. cithara: see above.]
An anglicized form of CITHARA, applied to the ancient instrument, as well as its later modifications, the CITHERN, ZITHER, etc.
1606. Bryskett, Civ. Life, I. 146. When Timotheus … presumed to adde but one string to the Cyther, they banished him out of the citie and territories, as a violater of lawes.
1875. B. Taylor, Faust, I. xix. 171. The Cither’s smashed! For nothing more ’tis fitting.
1879. in Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 359. The cither during the 16th & 17th centuries appears to have enjoyed great favour…. The difference between a cither and a lute is that the cither has wire strings and is played with a plectrum, while the lute has catgut strings to be touched with the fingers.
b. attrib., as in cither-player.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VI. lii. 303. A cithar-player named Aristonicus.
Cither, obs. form of CIDER.
