Editing Plectrum (section)

== Etymology and usage ==

First attested in English 15th century,<ref>''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', online edition (www.oed.com)</ref> the word "plectrum" comes from [[Latin language|Latin]] ''plectrum'', itself derived from [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] πλῆκτρον<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary''</ref> (''plēktron''), "anything to strike with, an instrument for striking the lyre, a spear point".<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2383798 πλῆκτρον], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref><ref>Greek "πλῆκτρον" comes from the verb "πλήττω" or "πλήσσω" (''plēssō''), "to hit, to strike, to smite, to sting". [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2383870 πλήσσω], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref>

"Plectrum" has both a Latin-based plural, ''plectra'' and a native English plural, ''plectrums''. ''Plectra'' is used in formal writing, particularly in discussing the harpsichord as an instrument of classical music,<ref>The affiliation of "plectra" and "plectrums" with harpsichords and guitars, respectively, is vividly discussed by [[The Guardian|Guardian]] columnist James Fenton: {{Cite news|last=Fenton|first=James|date=2007-10-13|title=Keyboard words|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/oct/13/classicalmusicandopera.art|access-date=2023-02-04|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> while ''plectrums'' is more common in ordinary speech.