ˈsaməˌsen noun
also sam·si·en -msēˌen ; or sham·i·sen ˈshaməˌsen
( plural samisen or samisens )
Etymology: Japanese samisen, from Chinese (Pekingese) san 1 hsien 2 , from san 1 three + hsien 2 string
: a 3-stringed Japanese musical instrument resembling a banjo