Viol
/ˈvaɪ.əl/noun
A bowed string instrument of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, held between the legs or on the lap.
Did you know?The viol’s name comes through French from Italian, ultimately from a Latin root for a stringed instrument, and it became the voice of aristocratic, private chamber music before fading into obscurity.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
vitula
“A stringed instrument or fiddle-like instrument”
Old Italian
It
viola
“A bowed string instrument”
Old French
OF
viole
“A viola-like stringed instrument”
14th Century
English
viol
“A bowed string instrument, especially one held between the legs”
Modern English
English
viol
“A historical bowed string instrument”