noun
- Plural of gittern; medieval stringed instruments similar to guitars, with a pear-shaped body and typically played with a plectrum.
Usage: archaic; historical
Examples
- Medieval musicians played gitterns alongside lutes and harps at court celebrations.
- The gitterns in the museum collection showed intricate carved decorations on their wooden bodies.
- Historical records mention gitterns being popular in 14th-century England.
- The ensemble featured gitterns, which produced a bright, percussive sound.