a. [f. STRING sb. + -ED2.]
1. Having a string or strings; spec. of musical instruments such as the violin and guitar. Also in parasynthetic comb., as ten-stringed.
c. 1000. Lamb. Ps. xci. 4. In decachordo psalterio, on tynstrængedum saltere.
a. 1300, 1535. [see ten-stringed s.v. TEN D. 1].
1552. Huloet, Strynged, chordatus. Strynged as a bowe is, amentatus.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 276/1. Hasta amentata,… a stringed or looped dart to fling with all.
1599–1843. [see THREE-STRINGED].
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXX. ii. 380. The house rung againe with the sound of stringed and wynd instruments.
1742. Berkeley, Lett., Wks. 1871, IV. 284. A large four-stringed bass violin.
1871. D. Cook, Nts. at the Play (1883), I. 177. The orchestra … is scarcely strong enough in stringed instruments to do full justice to Mr. Sullivan’s music.
1873. Leland, Egypt. Sketch-Bk., 55. A one-stringed banjo.
b. Her. (See quots.)
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 123. Two bowes bente addorsed de Or, stringed Vert.
1864. Boutell, Her. Hist. & Pop., xix. (ed. 3), 298. A Harp or, stringed argent.
1868. Cussans, Heraldry (1893), 117. Hunting-horn or Bugle.… It is usually blazoned as Stringed, which signifies that it depends from two strings, or ribbons, tied in a knot above.
c. Of a running-track: Divided by stretched strings into separate runs.
1897. Encycl. Sport, I. 64/2. (Athletics) Sprint handicaps run over a stringed track.
2. transf. Produced by strings or stringed instruments; † made with a rosary or string of beads.
1629. Milton, Hymn Nativ., ix. Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise.
1655. [G. Hall], Tri. Rome, v. 57. Such thraves and lasts of private Oraisons, which without the well-devised helps of stringed calculation, could never keep even reckoning.
1822. Shelley, Zucca, 72. Sounds of softest song Mixed with … stringèd melodies.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. xi. Three-deep these march; to the sound of stringed music.
1854. Athenæum, 6 May, 565/1. Two movements of a stringed Quartett, by Herr von Wilm.
