Hawaiian guitar

American  

noun

1. a six-to-eight-string electric guitar, fretted with a piece of metal or bone to produce a whining, glissando sound, played in a horizontal position usually resting on the performer's knees or on a stand, and much used by country music performers.

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Hawaiian guitar British  

noun

1. a lap-held steel-strung guitar with a wood or metal body, tuned to an open chord and played with a slide Compare Dobro pedal steel guitar

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Etymology

Origin of Hawaiian guitar

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Hawaiian guitar

An electric Hawaiian guitar that doubles as a crutch was designed in 1984 by Semie Moseley for country-music singer Barbara Mandrell in the wake of a car crash that left her severely injured.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

The venue books acts like the Japanese pianist Keiko Matsui and the Hawaiian guitar virtuoso Willie K, and offers stage time to emerging local musicians.

From New York Times ● Jun. 21, 2018

Their mother, a waitress, played the Hawaiian guitar, while their father worked at a Whitewater service station where the radio was tuned to country and western, pop and, on Saturday nights, the WGN “Barn Dance.”

From Washington Times ● May 19, 2018

His father, an accountant and businessman, played Hawaiian guitar and accordion.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 15, 2018

Playing instructions for the artist course which includes planning a future with the Hawaiian guitar, by Eddie Alkire. © 11Mar35; AA168598.

From U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1963 January - June by Library of Congress. Copyright Office

Related Words

• acoustic guitar