Word Study
banjo
CIDE DICTIONARY
banjo, n. [Formerly also banjore and banjer; corrupted from bandore, through negro slave pronunciation.].
A stringed musical instrument having a head and neck like the guitar, and a circular body like a tambourine. It has five strings, and is played with the fingers and hands. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
banjo, n. (pl. -os or -oes) a stringed musical instrument with a neck and head like a guitar and an open-backed body consisting of parchment stretched over a metal hoop.
Derivative
banjoist n.
Etymology
US southern corrupt. of earlier bandore ult. f. Gk pandoura three-stringed lute
THESAURUS
banjo
Dobro guitar, F-hole guitar, Spanish guitar, archlute, balalaika, banjo-uke, banjo-ukulele, banjo-zither, banjorine, banjuke, bass guitar, centerhole guitar, concert guitar, electric guitar, guitar, lute, mando-bass, mando-cello, mandola, mandolin, mandolute, mandore, oud, pandora, pandura, samisen, sitar, steel guitar, tamboura, theorbo, troubadour fiddle, uke, ukuleleROGET THESAURUS
banjo
Musical Instruments
N musical instruments, band, string-band, brass-band, orchestra, orchestrina, monochord, polychord, harp, lyre, lute, archlute, mandola, mandolin, mandoline, guitar, zither, cither, cithern, gittern, rebeck, bandurria, bandura, banjo, bina, vina, xanorphica, viol, violin, fiddle, kit, viola, viola d'amore, viola di gamba, tenor, cremona, violoncello, bass, bass viol, base viol, theorbo, double base, contrabasso, violone, psaltery, bow, fiddlestick, piano, pianoforte, harpsichord, clavichord, clarichord, manichord, clavier, spinet, virginals, dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, vielle, pianino, Eolian harp, organ, harmonium, harmoniphon, American organ, barrel organ, hand organ, accordion, seraphina, concertina, humming top, flute, fife, piccolo, flageolet, clarinet, claronet, basset horn, corno di bassetto, oboe, hautboy, cor Anglais, corno Inglese, bassoon, double bassoon, contrafagotto, serpent, bass clarinet, bagpipes, union pipes, musette, ocarina, Pandean pipes, reed instrument, sirene, pipe, pitch-pipe, sourdet, whistle, catcall, doodlesack, harmoniphone, horn, bugle, cornet, cornet-a-pistons, cornopean, clarion, trumpet, trombone, ophicleide, French horn, saxophone, sax, buglehorn, saxhorn, flugelhorn, althorn, helicanhorn, posthorn, sackbut, euphonium, bombardon tuba, cymbal, bell, gong, tambour, tambourine, tamborine, drum, tom-tom, tabor, tabret, tabourine, taborin, side drum, kettle drum, timpani, tympani, tymbal, timbrel, castanet, bones, musical glasses, musical stones, harmonica, sounding-board, rattle, tam-tam, zambomba, reed, tuning fork, triangle, Jew's harp, musical box, harmonicon, xylophone, sordine, sordet, sourdine, sourdet, mute, (iv) PERCEPTION OF SOUND.For further exploring for "banjo" in Webster Dictionary Online