banjo

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A usually fretted stringed instrument having a narrow neck and a hollow circular body with a covering of plastic or stretched skin on which the bridge rests. The modern American banjo typically has four strings and often a short fifth string plucked with the thumb.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A musical instrument of the guitar class, having a neck with or without frets. and a circular body covered in front with tightly stretched parchment, like a tambourine. It has from five to nine strings, of which the melody-string, the highest in pitch, but placed outside of the lowest of the others, is played by the thumb. As in the guitar, the pitch of the strings is fixed by stopping them with the left hand, while the right hand produces the tone by plucking or striking. It is a favorite instrument among the negroes of the southern United States, and is much used by other persons.
2. n. A banjo-frame (which see).
3. n. A form of automatic railway signaling-apparatus in which a flat circular disk, with an arm projecting from one side, is alternately exhibited in front of a glass opening in the signal-box and withdrawn from sight by the make and break of an electric circuit. The shape of the disk and its arm has suggested the name.
4. n. In mining, an iron frame for carrying a false clack.

Wiktionary

1. n. music A stringed musical instrument with a round body and fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings.
2. n. slang An object shaped like a banjo, especially a frying pan or a shovel.
3. v. To play the banjo
4. v. slang, UK To beat; to knock down

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A stringed musical instrument having a head and neck like the guitar, and a circular body like a tambourine. It has five strings, and is played with the fingers and hands.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a stringed instrument of the guitar family that has long neck and circular body