Scheitholt

Scheitholt [Scheit, log + holt, wood], obs. folk zither of Germany, similar to the bûche, with 1–4 melody strings and several drone strings stretched over a slender rectangular box that had fixed frets fitted to its left long side, and that tapered to form a pegbox at the upper end. The metal strings were secured by lateral pegs. In some instances the back was half open or entirely absent. The strings were plucked with bare fingers; Praetorius says that they were strummed by the right thumb…