1. Plural of baryton; a stringed musical instrument of the viol family, popular in the 18th century, with sympathetic strings that vibrate in response to bowed strings.
Usage: historical; musical instrument

Examples

• The baryton was a favorite instrument of the Austrian nobility during the Baroque period.
• Haydn composed numerous works for the baryton, which was played by Prince Nikolaus Esterházy.
• The barytons in the museum collection show the craftsmanship of 18th-century luthiers.
• Few musicians today are skilled enough to play the baryton with its complex sympathetic strings.