stringed, a.
(strɪŋd)
[f. string n. + -ed2.]
1. Having a string or strings; spec. of musical instruments such as the violin and guitar. Also in parasynthetic comb., as ten-stringed.
| c 1000 Lamb. Ps. xci. 4 In decachordo psalterio, on tynstrængedum saltere. a 1300, 1535 [see ten-stringed s.v. ten D. 1]. 1552 Huloet, Strynged, chordatus. Strynged as a bowe is, amentatus. 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 276/1 Hasta amentata,..a stringed or looped dart to fling with all. 1599–1843 [see three-stringed]. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxx. ii. 380 The house rung againe with the sound of stringed and wynd instruments. 1742 Berkeley Lett. Wks. 1871 IV. 284 A large four-stringed bass violin. 1871 D. Cook Nts. at the Play (1883) I. 177 The orchestra..is scarcely strong enough in stringed instruments to do full justice to Mr. Sullivan's music. 1873 Leland Egypt. Sketch-Bk. 55 A one-stringed banjo. |
b. Her. (See quots.)
| 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 123 Two bowes bente addorsed de Or, stringed Vert. 1864 Boutell Her. Hist. & Pop. xix. (ed. 3) 298 A Harp or, stringed argent. 1868 Cussans Heraldry (1893) 117 Hunting-horn or Bugle... It is usually blazoned as Stringed, which signifies that it depends from two strings, or ribbons, tied in a knot above. |
c. Of a running-track: Divided by stretched strings into separate runs.
| 1897 Encycl. Sport I. 64/2 (Athletics) Sprint handicaps run over a stringed track. |
2. transf. Produced by strings or stringed instruments; † made with a rosary or string of beads.
| 1629 Milton Hymn Nativ. ix, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise. 1655 [G. Hall] Tri. Rome v. 57 Such thraves and lasts of private Oraisons, which without the well-devised helps of stringed calculation, could never keep even reckoning. 1822 Shelley Zucca 72 Sounds of softest song Mixed with..stringèd melodies. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. II. i. xi, Three-deep these march; to the sound of stringed music. 1854 Athenæum 6 May 565/1 Two movements of a stringed Quartett, by Herr von Wilm. |