phorminx

English

Etymology

Ancient Greek φόρμιγξ (phórminx)

Noun

phorminx (plural phorminxes or phorminges)

1. A kind of lyre used by the Ancient Greeks.
   • 1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “First Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC:

     We beat the phorminx till we hurt our thumbs,
     As if still ignorant of counterpoint.