Also 6 tambora, 7 tamera, 9 tumboora. [app. ad. Pers. ṭanbūr, Arab. ṭunbūr, in same sense.] An oriental musical instrument of the lute family, resembling the guitar, with wire strings struck by a plectrum.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. i. 69 b. A thing very like vnto a Cittern, which they call Tambora.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 276. He would needs play on the Tamera,… an Instrument us’d by the Persians instead of the Lute.
1784. Novelist’s Mag., XIII. Persian Tales, Gloss., vi. Tamboura—a sort of small lute, with five strings of brass-wire, and a neck two feet long, chiefly used to accompany voices.
1828. Asiatic Costumes, 13. The tumboora in shape resembles the guitar more than any other instrument.
1864. Engel, Mus. Anc. Nat., 51. The tamboura … is at present in use, especially in Persia, Hindoostan, and Asiatic Turkey.
