banjo

[ ban-joh ]
/ ˈbæn dʒoʊ /

noun, plural ban·jos, ban·joes.

a musical instrument of the guitar family, having a circular body covered in front with tightly stretched parchment and played with the fingers or a plectrum.

Origin of banjo

1730–40; compare Jamaican English banja, bonjour, bangil, Brazilian Portuguese banza; probably of African orig.; compare Kimbundu mbanza a plucked string instrument

OTHER WORDS FROM banjo

ban·jo·ist, noun

Words nearby banjo

banister back, banisters, banja luka, banjarmasin, banjermasin, banjo, banjo clock, banjolele, banjul, bank, bank acceptance

Example sentences from the Web for banjo

British Dictionary definitions for banjo

banjo
/ (ˈbændʒəʊ) /

noun plural -jos or -joes

a stringed musical instrument with a long neck (usually fretted) and a circular drumlike body overlaid with parchment, plucked with the fingers or a plectrum
slang any banjo-shaped object, esp a frying pan
Australian and NZ slang a long-handled shovel with a wide blade
(modifier) banjo-shaped a banjo clock

Derived forms of banjo

banjoist, noun

Word Origin for banjo

C18: variant (US Southern pronunciation) of bandore

Cultural definitions for banjo

banjo

A stringed musical instrument, played by plucking (see strings). The banjo has a percussive sound and is much used in folk music and bluegrass music.