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sham·i·sen  (shămĭ-sĕn′) also sam·i·sen (săm-)
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Tweet 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).] |
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