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klezmer

[klez-mer]
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noun, plural klez·mo·rim [klez-muh-reem] /ˌklɛz məˈrim/.
  1. a Jewish folk musician traditionally performing in a small band.
  2. Also klezmer music. the type of music performed by such musicians.
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Origin of klezmer

From Yiddish
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for klezmer

klezmer

noun
  1. a Jewish folk musician, usually a member of a small band
  2. Also called: klezmer music the music performed by such a band
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Word Origin

Yiddish
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 klezmer

n.

late 19c. (plural klezmorim); originally, "an itinerant East European Jewish professional musician," from Hebrew kley zemer, literally "vessels of song," thus "musical instruments."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper