Viell
/viːl/noun
An obsolete spelling of vielle, a medieval bowed stringed instrument.
Did you know?The viell was a major medieval bowed instrument and is commonly regarded as one of the ancestors of the modern viol and violin families.
Etymological Timeline
Late Antiquity
Latin
vitula
“A stringed musical instrument; the precise form and origin of the term are debated.”
9th–11th Century
Old French
viel(e)
“A bowed stringed instrument.”
12th–13th Century
Middle English
vièle / vielle
“A medieval bowed string instrument.”
14th–15th Century
English
viell
“An obsolete spelling used for the medieval bowed instrument.”
Modern English
English
vielle
“The standard modern form for the medieval bowed string instrument.”