berimbau

noun

be·​rim·​bau
bā-ˈrēm-ˌbau̇
: a musical instrument of Brazil that consists of a gourd resonator and a single string which is struck with a stick

Word History

Etymology

Brazilian Portuguese, from Portuguese, Jew's harp

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of berimbau was in 1964

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near berimbau

Cite this Entry

“Berimbau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berimbau. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!