dulcimer UK /ˈdʌl.sɪ.mə/US /ˈdʌl.sɪ.mɚ/ noun1 •A stringed instrument, with strings stretched across a sounding board, usually trapezoidal, played by plucking on the strings (traditionally with a quill) or by tapping on them (in the case of the hammer dulcimers).A damsel with a dulcimer / In a vision once I saw: / It was an Abyssinian maid / And on her dulcimer she played, / Singing of Mount Abora. — 1797 formsdulcimers