Guitar [Gk. kithara via Arab. qitāra and OFr. guiterne] (Fr.: guitare; Ger.: Gitarre; It.: chitarra; Sp.: guitarra), plucked *chordophone with built-up, characteristically incurved ribs forming a waist. Prototypes of the guitar are believed to be represented by 4 specimens of a wooden instr. with built-up body, sharp incurve of the ribs, and long, narrow neck bearing signs of having had 3 or 4 strings and frets, excavated in Egypt and assigned to a period between the 4th and 8th c. A.C. Such…