Gamba
/ˈɡæm.bə/noun
A leg; in music, a bowed string instrument held between the legs.
Did you know?*Gamba* comes from Italian, ultimately from Greek *kampe* / *kampē* meaning a bend or joint, which is why it became tied to the bent leg and the bowed instrument held between the legs.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kampē
“a bend, curve, or joint”
Late Latin
Latin
gamba
“leg, hock, or bent hind leg”
Old Italian
Italian
gamba
“leg”
16th Century
French
viole de gambe
“a viol played between the legs”
Modern English
English
gamba
“a leg; especially in musical and anatomical contexts”
Explore more surprising origins