\ ˈken
\
\
variants:
or less commonly khene
or kaen
or khen
plural khaens also khenes or kaens or khens
Definition of khaen
: a Southeast Asian mouth organ that consists of a small wooden reservoir through which pass a set of six to eighteen long bamboo pipes each with a tiny metal free reed in a side opening and that is played by exhaling and inhaling
In Thailand and Laos, the mouth organ called the khaen is also used for dancing, often while playing the instrument …— Jeremy Montagu, Origins and Development of Musical Instruments, 2007
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Cite this Entry
“Khaen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/khaen. Accessed 26 Feb. 2021.
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Time Traveler for khaen
The first known use of khaen was in 1955
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