a small piece of plastic, metal, ivory, etc., for plucking the strings of a guitar, lyre, mandolin, etc.
2.
Anatomy, Zoology. an anatomical part resembling a plectrum in shape.
Origin
1620-30; < Latinplēctrum < Greekplêktron
Examples from the web for plectrum
If the crosspiece were as taut and unyielding as he was at that moment, a single stroke of the plectrum would break it.
They have four to six steel strings, and are usually played with a plectrum.
British Dictionary definitions for plectrum
plectrum
/ˈplɛktrəm/
noun (pl) -trums, -tra (-trə)
1.
any implement for plucking a string, such as a small piece of plastic, wood, etc, used to strum a guitar, or the quill that plucks the string of a harpsichord
Word Origin
C17: from Latin plēctrum quill, plectrum, from Greek plektron, from plessein to strike
Word Origin and History for plectrum
n.
something used to pluck the strings of a musical instrument, 1620s, from Latin plectrum, from Greek plektron "thing to strike with" (pick for a lyre, cock's spur, spear point, etc.), from plek-, root of plessein "to strike" (see plague (n.)).