Sitar
सितार
sih-TAR
Sitar (सितार) is a Persian-origin word used in Indian English, meaning long-necked plucked string instrument, the iconic sound of Hindustani classical music. In crosswords it is the 5-letter answer SITAR (5).
Appears as an answer in MG Mini #661.
Meaning & usage
The sitar is a long-necked, gourd-bodied plucked lute with movable frets and a set of sympathetic strings under the playing strings that ring on their own. It is the signature melodic instrument of Hindustani classical music. Pandit Ravi Shankar took the instrument to a global audience in the 1960s and 70s; his pupils include George Harrison, who put the sitar on a string of Beatles records.
In a sentence
The opening bars of the sitar drone settled the audience instantly.
Sitar as a crossword answer
Sitar is a 5-letter answer. A typical clue:
“Long-necked plucked string instrument, the iconic sound of Hindustani classical music” (5)
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