viol
A stringed instrument related to the violin family, but held in the lap between the legs like a cello, usually with C-holes, a flat back, a fretted neck and six strings, played with an underhanded bow hold.
Other meanings
A large rope used to manipulate the anchor
A kind of
- bowed stringed instrument
Kinds of viol
- gamba
Related words
- bastard viol
- division viol
- tenor viol
- viol block
Word history
From Medieval Latin "vitula" (stringed instrument).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “viol” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.