balalaika

[bal-uh-lahy-kuh]

noun

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for balalaika

Historical Examples of balalaika

And from every saddle dangled a balalaika and the terrible Cossack whip.
The Crimson Tide
Robert W. Chambers
The sound of music came from somewhere outside, notes of the balalaika.
The Secret of the Night
Gaston Leroux
One of the children played a balalaika and sang in a broken, mournful voice that did not at all belong to her age.
Trapped in 'Black Russia'
Ruth Pierce
Rouletabille listened to the voice dying away with the last sob of the balalaika.
The Secret of the Night
Gaston Leroux
Balalaika, a musical instrument of very ancient Slavonic origin, common among the Russians and Tartars.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for balalaika

balalaika

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

Word Origin and History for balalaika

stringed instrument with a triangular body, 1788, from Russian balalaika, said to be related to balabolit' "to chatter, babble," an imitative word.