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balalaika

[ bal-uh-lahy-kuh ]
/ ˌbæl əˈlaɪ kə /

noun

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

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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

Words nearby balalaika

Balaguer, Balak, Balakirev, Balaklava, Balakovo, balalaika, balance, balance beam, balance bridge, balance control, balanced
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for balalaika

British Dictionary definitions for balalaika

balalaika
/ (ˌbæləˈlaɪkə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for balalaika

C18: from Russian
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