balalaika

American  

[bal-uh-lahy-kuh] / ˌbæl əˈlaɪ kə /

noun

1. a Russian musical instrument having a triangular body and a neck like that of a guitar.

---

balalaika British  

/ ˌbæləˈlaɪkə /

noun

1. a plucked musical instrument, usually having a triangular body and three strings: used chiefly for Russian folk music

---

Etymology

Origin of balalaika

1780–90; < Russian balaláĭka, equivalent to balalaĭ-, probably originally a v. base, akin to balabólitʾ, balákatʾ chatter, talk nonsense (compare Russian dial., Ukrainian balabáĭka balalaika), expressive derivatives of Slavic *bay- speak, tell, akin to fate, -phasia + -ka noun suffix