balalaika

Where does the word "balalaika" come from? It comes from Russian balalaika, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Balalaika’s story begins in Russian: balalaika meant “a triangular stringed instrument.” A triangular-bodied stringed folk instrument. It reached English by 1800s as balalaika. Tchaikovsky and Russian folk orchestras of the 1880s helped make it a national symbol. Today, balalaika means a Russian stringed folk instrument with a triangular body.

1. Stage 1 · Russian · 1700s balalaika "a triangular stringed instrument", a triangular-bodied stringed folk instrument.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s balalaika "a triangular Russian folk instrument", Tchaikovsky and Russian folk orchestras of the 1880s helped make it a national symbol.