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n. Any of various long-necked stringed instruments, plucked or bowed, used in South and Southwest Asia, Southeast Europe, and North and East Africa. [Ultimately (partially via Hindi and Urdu tambūra, Modern Greek tambouras, and Turkish tambur) from Arabic ṭunbūr and Persian tanbūr, a kind of long-necked stringed instrument, both from Middle Persian, a kind of long-necked stringed instrument, perhaps (with metathesis of consonants) from Greek pandoura, three-string lute; see MANDOLIN.] |
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