Dictionary entry

G05567

An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon Keyed to Strong's Numbers

ψάλλω

Etym. ψάω

I. "to touch sharply, to pluck, pull, twitch", Aesch.; τόξου νευρὰν ψ. "to twang" the bow-string, Eur.; βέλος ἐκ κέραος ψ. "to send" a shaft "twanging" from the bow, Anth.; so, σχοῖνος μιλτοφυρὴς ψαλλομένη a carpenter's red line, which "is twitched" and then suddenly let go, so as to leave a mark, id=Anth.

II. "to play" a stringed instrument "with the fingers", not with the plectron, Hdt., Ar., Plat.

2. later, "to sing to a harp, sing", NTest.