A psaltery (Greek: ψαλτήρι) (or sawtry, an archaic form) is a fretboard-less box zither (a simple chordophone) and is considered the archetype of the zither and dulcimer. Plucked keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord were also inspired by it.

Psaltery, (from Greek psaltērion: “harp”), musical instrument having plucked strings of gut, horsehair, or metal stretched across a flat soundboard, often trapezoidal but also rectangular, triangular, or wing-shaped.

Psaltery definition: an ancient musical instrument consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings which are plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum..

n. pl. psal·ter·ies also psal·tries An ancient stringed instrument played by plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum.