dul ‧ ci ‧ mer /ˈdʌlsəmə, ˈdʌlsɪmə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: doulcemer , perhaps from Latin dulce melos 'sweet song' ]
1 . a musical instrument with up to 100 strings, played with light hammers
2 . a small instrument with strings that is popular in American ↑ folk music , and is played across your knees