noun

violoncello

vie-uh-lun-CHEL-oh/ˌvaɪələnˈtʃeləʊ/

A large bowed string instrument held between the knees and played while seated.

The violoncello stands beside its bow with an extended endpin.

Full-sized cello with bow beside it, curved body, four strings, endpin and low chair indicate scale.

Etymology

violItalianviola

+onItalianlarge

+celloItaliansmall

The two size endings work in stages: viola becomes violone, a bass viol, and violoncello names a smaller version of that bass instrument. Thus the name describes a small bass viol, not simply a small viola.

More examples

He sits with the violoncello between his knees.
The composer wrote a solo for violoncello.
Two violoncellos add a rich, low sound to the ensemble.

Forms

violoncello · violoncellos · violoncelli

violoncellist noun — A musician who plays the violoncello.

Similar words

cello: Cello is the usual shortened name for the same instrument.