'psaltery' originates from Old French 'psalterion', which in turn comes from Latin 'psalterium', derived from Greek 'psaltērion', where 'psallein' meant 'to pluck'.

'psalterion' transformed into the Old English word 'psalterie', and eventually became the modern English word 'psaltery'.

Initially, it referred to a specific type of stringed instrument used in religious contexts, but over time it evolved into a general term for similar instruments.