Art & MusicGreek → English
Plectrum
/ˈplɛktrəm/noun
A small piece of horn, bone or plastic used to pluck the strings of an instrument.
The Greek roots
πλήσσω
plḗssō
to strike
-τρον
-tron
instrument for
Literally: “striking tool”
The story of the word
Vase paintings show kithara players holding a plectrum on a cord so it dangles when the fingers take over, and the Greek word simply means the thing you hit with. The -τρον suffix does the same work in many Greek nouns, giving the instrument that performs the verb. πλήσσω also lies under apoplexy, being struck down, and cognates of it run through Latin plaga, a blow, and so into plague.
- How it travelled
- Ancient Greek → Latin → English
- First recorded
- 17th century
Same family
apoplexyparaplegiaplangent
In a sentence
He keeps a spare plectrum wedged under the strings at the headstock.
The harpsichord plucks each string with a small plectrum of quill or plastic.