sham·i·sen 
(shămĭ-sĕn′) also sam·i·sen (săm-)
(shămĭ-sĕn′) also sam·i·sen (săm-)n.
A Japanese musical instrument resembling a lute, having a very long neck and three strings played with a plectrum.
[Japanese shamisen, samisen : san, three (from Middle Chinese sam, also the source of Mandarin sān) + mi, taste, touch; see MIRIN + sen, string (from Middle Chinese sian`; also the source of Mandarin xiàn).]