monochord

Latin monochordon. See chord.

monochord (plural monochords)

1. A musical instrument for experimenting with the mathematical relations of musical sounds, consisting of a single string stretched between two bridges, one or both of which can be moved, and which stand upon a graduated rule for the purpose of changing and measuring the length of the part of the string between them.
   • 1840, Elijah Coleman Bridgman, Samuel Wells Williams, The Chinese Repository (page 40)

     If a musician were going to give a lecture upon the mathematical part of his art, he would find a very elegant substitute for the monochord in the Chinese kin.

2. A stringed instrument with only one string.

• kanon (used in the context of ancient Greek music)

• monochordist