Samisen

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.4 Alternative spellings

English

Etymology

Japanese 三味線 (さみせん), from Chinese 三弦 sānxián, from sān ‘three’ + xián ‘string’.

Pronunciation

IPA: /'sæmɪsɛn/

Noun

Singular samisen

Plural samisen

1. a kind of three-stringed Japanese lute

   • 1982: He sees her chastened and cast-down eyes as she kneels and tinkles away on her samisen — John Fowles, Mantissa

Alternative spellings

• shamisen