(Hawaiian, flea; U.K., ukelele). Popular small guitarlike instrument with four strings.

The instrument was originally imported by Portuguese sailors into Hawaii in the 1870s and found its way to the continental U.S. in the early 20th century. It proved very popular, in part because the use of TABLATURE allowed players who were unable to read music to learn quickly. Popular music of all kinds employed the instrument, and it could be heard in VAUDEVILLE, musicals, and films. Its popularity died out after World War II, but it could be heard in unusual settings, for example, as the accompanying instrument to the unusual vocal stylings of Tiny Tim (Herbert Khaury), who revived an endless number of TIN PAN ALLEY songs.