Mandolin

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmændÉ™lɪn/

Origin

From French mandoline, from Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandola, a large stringed instrument.

Full definition of mandolin

Noun

1. (music) A stringed instrument and a member of the lute family, having eight strings in four courses, frequently tuned as a violin. They have either a bowl back or a flat back.
2. A kitchen tool used for slicing vegetables (usually spelled mandoline).
3. (military) An RAF World War II code name for patrols to attack enemy railway transport.

Derived terms

• mandolinist

Related terms

• mandola, manjo, mandolin-banjo, banjo-mandolin, banjolin