Semantron

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A percussion instrument used chiefly in Eastern Orthodox monasteries to summon the brethren to prayer or to lead processions.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σήμαντρον (sḗmantron, “a seal, signet, in MGr. a semantron”), from σημαίνειν (sēmaínein, “to show by a sign, signify, in MGr. strike a semantron”), from σῆμα (sêma, “mark, sign”).

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.