noun
viol
VYE-ul/ˈvaɪəl/
A bowed string instrument used in Renaissance and Baroque music.
The bass viol stands upright, showing six strings and a fretted neck.
Etymology
Old French viole, the probable source, named a fiddle-like stringed instrument. In English, the name refers to the early bowed instrument held upright.
More examples
- The musicians tune their viols before the concert.
- He draws the bow gently across the viol's strings.
- A bass viol accompanies the singer in this Baroque piece.
Forms
viol · viols
Similar words
- cello
- Typically has four strings and no frets, unlike a viol.
- violin
- Usually held under the chin rather than between the knees.