balalaika
/ˌbaləˈlʌɪkə
/noun
A Russian musical instrument like a guitar with a triangular body and typically three strings.All the chorus writing, including some clarinet-led boat music in which strings imitate a balalaika, a wedding song that yields to anguish, some vigorous, aggressive Polish bravado, and the noble imperial finale, is dramatic and vivid....
- You can hear every pure delightful twang and warble of every guitar, gadulka, balalaika and harp and in a couple of tracks a clarinet cuts the melody with a compelling slice of romance.
- Now he straightened his embroidered jerkin and fluffed his lace cuffs with a fastidious air, and the strings of the balalaika on his back sang gently as he shrugged.
Origin
Late 18th century: from Russian, of Tatar origin.
Rhymes
- towelling
- towel rail
- tower
- tower block
- Tower Bridge
- towered
- towering
- Tower of Babel
- Tower of London
- tower of silence
- tower of strength
- tower (or pillar) of strength
- towery
- tow-head
- tow-headed
- towhee
- to whom it may concern
- towie
- to windward of
- towing path
- towing rope
- (to) within an inch of one's life
- towline
- town
- town acre