sistrum
/ˈsɪstɹəm/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.07 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An ancient Egyptian musical instrument, to be shaken, consisting of a metal frame holding percussive metal beads.
Example Sentences
- "She moved with slow undulations of her body as lascivious as the curve of Hathfertiti’s hair, and the sistrum with its singing wires was played by a dwarf wearing nothing but a gold purse and a few bracelets on his stunted biceps."
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin sīstrum, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek σεῖστρον (seîstron), from σείω (seíō, “shake”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *tweys-, sīstrum, σεῖστρον