The term 'OLD PEAR-SHAPED INSTRUMENT' can be summarized as a LUTE, which is a four-letter word. A LUTE is a stringed instrument that has been around for centuries and is believed to have originated in the Middle East. It has a pear-shaped body and a long neck with strings that are plucked or strummed. The LUTE was popular during the Renaissance period and is still used today in some forms of folk music.