psalter

The family starts with Greek psallein, "to pluck" or "to play a stringed instrument." From that verb came psaltērion, the name of a harp-like instrument. Music is the oldest layer of the word. It was first heard as sound before it was read as scripture.

Greek-speaking Jews and Christians used psaltērion and closely related forms for songs sung to accompaniment. The title Psalms in Greek, Psalmoi, belongs to the same musical family. Late Latin produced psalterium, which could mean the Book of Psalms or the instrument named in biblical translation. The manuscript title grew out of liturgical singing.

Old English had psalter directly from Latin for the biblical book, and Anglo-French also reinforced the form. By the Middle Ages, a psalter was often a manuscript containing the Psalms for prayer and devotion. Such books were central in monasteries and noble households alike. The word settled into religious and bookish use.

Modern English keeps psalter mainly for the Book of Psalms or a copy arranged for worship. The musical origin is mostly hidden unless one knows Greek. Yet it still lives inside the word, because the Psalms were songs before they were pages. A stringed instrument became a prayer book.