The word "Dulcimer" comes from the Latin words "Dulcis" for sweet, and "Melos" for song. The hammered dulcimer is an ancient instrument and is even mentioned in the Bible; Daniel 3 Verse 10.

It is played by striking the strings with small wooden mallets, called "hammers". Historically it precedes the piano, inside of which the strings are struck by small padded "hammers".