Stringed instrument with a body shaped like a sliced pear (4)

I believe the answer is:

lute

(Other definitions for lute that I've seen before include "Old plucked instrument" , "Protective packing" , "Stringed instrument shaped like a halved egg" , "instrument that minstrel played" , "Old guitar-like instrument played by minstrels" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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