Entry · Sunday, October 25, 2026
Ukulele
/yoo-kuh-LAY-lee/ n.- 1. A small, four-stringed instrument of the guitar family, originating in Hawaii, characterized by a figure-eight body whose lower bout exhibits a depth and curvature disproportionate to the instrument's modest overall length; esp. one in which the waist-to-lower-bout ratio reads as a deliberate architectural decision.
- 2. colloq. Pint-sized. Rear-heavy. Every millimeter of that lower bout accounted for. The sound hole is decorative by comparison.
"The luthier held up a thiccc soprano ukulele at the Honolulu craft fair and the booth went quiet. Four strings. One conversation."
From Hawaiian ukulele, meaning 'jumping flea,' a nickname reportedly given to Edward Purvis, the British army officer whose lively playing style popularized the instrument in the 1880s. The instrument was itself adapted from the Portuguese machete, a small four-string guitar brought to Hawaii by Madeiran immigrants in 1879. Named after a jumping flea. Built like it has no intention of jumping anywhere.
Filed by
Stood at a Honolulu craft fair booth holding a soprano ukulele and the booth went quiet. Filing it.
Ruling PROVISIONAL
The waist-to-lower-bout ratio is not an architectural decision. It is a documented proportion. Admitted pending confirmation the machete was narrower.
In the margin
We had a soprano at the yacht club once. Someone played two chords and the harbourmaster asked everyone to leave. Four strings. One incident.
The ukulele was adapted from a Portuguese instrument. The lower bout did not come from Portugal. It arrived later, fully formed, and did not explain itself.