English

Plectra alias picks

Alternative forms

• plectron

Noun

plectrum ‎(plural plectrums or plectra)

1. (anatomy, zoology) An anatomical part resembling a plectrum in shape.
2. (music) A small piece of plastic, metal, ivory, etc., for plucking the strings of a guitar, lyre, mandolin, etc.

Synonyms

• pick (US)

Translations

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πλῆκτρον ‎(plêktron), from πλήσσειν ‎(plḗssein, “to strike, sting”)

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈpleːk.trum/, [ˈpɫeːk.trũ]

Noun

plēctrum n ‎(genitive plēctrī); second declension

1. A plectrum; tool for playing a stringed instrument.
2. A lyre, lute.

Inflection

Second declension.

Descendants

• English: plectrum
• French: plectre
• Italian: plettro
• Portuguese: plectro
• Spanish: plectro

References

• plectrum in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• plectrum in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• PLECTRUM in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• Félix Gaffiot (1934), “plectrum”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
• plectrum in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• plectrum in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin