conc▪ Lane specifies the meaning as ‘slender watar [or bow-string]: or the most slender (of such cords) and the most firmly twisted; hence the zīr [or smallest string] of muzhir [or lute]’. In this sense, he adds, zīr is apparantly of Pers origin. Rolland2014a gives the etymology as: from Pers zīr ‘smallest string of a lute, guitar, etc.’ (Steingass1892), from mPers azīr ‘under’, ultimately from IE *ndʰer‑ ‘under’.