sambuca
1[ sam-byoo-kuh ]
noun
Also sam·buke [sam-byook]. /ˈsæm byuk/. an ancient stringed musical instrument used in Greece and the Middle East.
a medieval hurdy-gurdy.
Origin of sambuca
1First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English sambuke, from Latin sambūca, from Greek sambȳ́kē, perhaps from Semitic; compare Aramaic sabbəkhā
Other definitions for sambuca (2 of 2)
sambuca2
[ sam-boo-kuh; Italian sahm-boo-kah ]
noun
a licorice-flavored Italian liqueur made from elderberries.
Origin of sambuca
2First recorded in 1970–75; from Italian, feminine derivative of sambuco “elder (tree),” from Latin sa(m)būcus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
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