The story
- Japanese · borrowed from琵琶
- English todaybiwa
Borrowing from Japanese 琵琶 (biwa). Doublet of bipa and pipa.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Today it means: A plucked lute, originating in the classical and traditional music of Japan, characterized by a pear-shaped body and four or five high frets, giving the instrument a distinctively twangy tone. Full definition →
Borrowing from Japanese 琵琶 (biwa). Doublet of bipa and pipa.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.