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samisen

[ sam-uh-sen ]

noun

  1. a guitarlike Japanese musical instrument having an extremely long neck and three strings, played with a plectrum.


samisen

/ ˈsæmɪˌsɛn /

noun

  1. a variant of shamisen
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of samisen1

1610–20; < Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese sānxia three-string banjo
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Example Sentences

One took her samisen and sang; and people crowded into the tiny yard to hear.

After supper the sparrow danced, whilst his grandmother played the samisen and the good old man beat time.

The samisen is a kind of small banjo, and probably originated in the Chinese kin.

The samisen players are older and they dress more plainly in black or plain blue, the drum players are young and gay colored.

He used to carry a samisen about with him when he was a child—he and little Yon, Baron Mutsu's daughter.

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