banjert (banjer)

See banjo. banjo (ban'jō), n. [Negro pron. of banjore, a corruption (in another form banjer ) of ban dorel, q. v.] 1. A musical instrument of the guitar cla , having a neck with or without frets, and a circular body covered in front with tightly stretched parchment, like a tambourine. It has from five to nine strings, of which the melody. string, the highest in pitch, but placed outside of the lowest of the others, is played by the thumb. As in the gui tar, the pitch of the strings is fixed by stopping them with the left hand, while the right hand produces the tone by plucking or striking. It is a favorite instrument among the negroes of the southern United States, and is much used by other persons. 2. A banjo-frame (which see).