Adjacent Words

Theorbo definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

THEOR'BO, n. A musical instrument made like a large lute, except that it has two necks or juga, the second and longer of which sustains the four last rows of chords, which are to give the deepest sounds. The theorbo has eight base or thick strings twice as long as those of the lute, which excess of length renders the sound exceedingly soft, and continues it a great length of time.

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -bos) Etymology: modification of Italian tiorba, teorba Date: 1605 a stringed instrument of the 17th century resembling a large lute but having an extra set of long bass strings

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -os) a two-necked musical instrument of the lute class much used in the seventeenth century. Derivatives: theorbist n. Etymology: It. tiorba, of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Theorbo The*or"bo, n. [F. th['e]orbe, t['e]orbe, formerly tuorbe, tiorbe, It. tiorba.] (Mus.) An instrument made like large lute, but having two necks, with two sets of pegs, the lower set holding the strings governed by frets, while to the upper set were attached the long bass strings used as open notes. Note: A larger form of theorbo was also called the archlute, and was used chiefly, if not only, as an accompaniment to the voice. Both have long fallen into disuse.