[L. barbiton, -os, a. Gr. βάρβιτον, -ος.] A many-stringed musical instrument; a kind of lyre or lute.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 39. All maner of pypes, barbitons, sambukes … be condemned of Aristotle.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., The barbitos is said to have differed from the lyre and cithara.
1842. Lytton, Zanoni, I. i. His barbiton, as the learned Mersennus tells us to call all the varieties of the great viol family.
