ukulele

noun

1. a small, guitarlike musical instrument associated chiefly with Hawaiian music.

noun

1. a small four-stringed guitar, esp of Hawaii

n.1896, from Hawaiian ‘ukulele, literally “leaping flea,” from ‘uku “louse, flea” + lele “to fly, jump, leap.” So called from the rapid motion of the fingers in playing it. It developed from a Portuguese instrument introduced to the islands c.1879. A small guitar, developed in Hawaii, with four strings.