Lute
/ljuːt/noun
A stringed musical instrument with a deep rounded back and a fretted neck.
Did you know?The English word lute comes through Old French from Arabic al-ʿūd, literally referring to “the wood,” because the instrument’s soundboard was wooden in contrast to many skin-faced instruments.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Arabic
Arabic
al-ʿūd
“the wood; a wooden instrument”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ʿūd
“wood, and by extension the wooden lute”
Old French
OF
luth
“a lute”
Middle English
ME
lut
“a lute”
Modern English
English
lute
“a stringed musical instrument with a rounded back and fretted neck”