ukulele

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“
There was the banjo-ukulele, the guitar-banjo, different banjo sizes such as piccolo, cello and bass, the banjeaurine, the plectrum banjo (a 5-string banjo without the 5th string), etc. etc.

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Definitions (3)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A small four-stringed guitar popularized in Hawaii.
  2. Regional Note
    The word ukulele is one of a small stock of Polynesian borrowings into American English. Other Hawaiian words now common in American English are aloha (a greeting or farewell) and luau (an outdoor picnic usually featuring a whole barbecued pig). Haole, a word common in Hawaii itself but not well known on the American mainland, is the Hawaiian word for a white person.

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Examples (50)

  • Jolson strummed the last few bars on his ukulele, and immediately the sound system switched to Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild." —  Magazine - Aeon Authors - 2006 - Issue 06 - Aeon Six
  • In addition to ukulele, there's an accordion, a cello, and Lucy Michelle's whistling, which is it's own instrument. —  News & Features from Minnesota Public Radio
  • She came over and talked about wanting to play the ukulele, and she had some ability for someone who'd never touched one before. —  The Drunkablog
  • Playing the ukulele has been really great because it's so easy to travel with as well.
  • And the thing about the music of the Beatles, you can play it on any instrument and it just sounds amazing -- ukulele, piano, some amazing symphonic arrangements, solo guitar ...
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Etymologies (1)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Hawaiian 'ukulele : 'uku, flea + lele, jumping.
 

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