Adjacent Words

Viol definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

VI'OL, n. A stringed musical instrument, of the same form as the violin, but larger, and having formerly six strings, to be struck with a bow. Viols are of different kinds. The largest of all is the base viol, whose tones are deep, soft and agreeable. The violin now takes the place of the old viol.
Me softer airs befit, and softer strings of lute, or viol, still more apt for mournful things.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of a family of bowed stringed instruments that preceded the violin family

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English vial, from Anglo-French viele, viole, from Old Occitan viola Date: 15th century a bowed stringed instrument chiefly of the 16th and 17th centuries made in treble, alto, tenor, and bass sizes and distinguished from members of the violin family especially in having a deep body, a flat back, sloping shoulders, usually six strings, a fretted fingerboard, and a low-arched bridge

Britannica Concise

Bowed stringed instrument of the 16th-18th cent. The viols are distinguished from the violin family particularly by a fretted fingerboard, sloping shoulders, flat back, six strings, and milder tone. They exist in four sizes: treble, tenor, bass, and double bass (violone). They are played vertically, the body being held between the legs or rested on the knee. The viol family appeared in the late 15th cent. and soon became widely popular and acquired a large repertory. Throughout the baroque era, the bass viol joined the harpsichord in the basso continuo. The contemporaneous violin family, with their more penetrating tone, gradually displaced the viols in the 18th cent.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a medieval stringed musical instrument, played with a bow and held vertically on the knees or between the legs. Etymology: ME viel etc. f. OF viel(l)e, alt. of viole f. Prov. viola, viula, prob. ult. f. L vitulari be joyful: cf. FIDDLE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Viol Vi"ol, n. [F. viole; cf. Pr. viola, viula, Sp., Pg., & It. viola, LL. vitula; of uncertain origin; perhaps from L. vitulari to celebrate a festival, keep holiday, be joyful, perhaps originally, to sacrifice a calf (vitulus; cf. Veal). Cf. Fiddle, Vielle, 2d Viola, Violin.] 1. (Mus.) A stringed musical instrument formerly in use, of the same form as the violin, but larger, and having six strings, to be struck with a bow, and the neck furnished with frets for stopping the strings. Me softer airs befit, and softer strings Of lute, or viol still, more apt for mournful things. --Milton. Note: The name is now applied as a general term to designate instruments of the violin kind, as tenor viol, bass viol, etc. 2. (Naut.) A large rope sometimes used in weighing anchor. [Written also voyal, and voyal.] --Totten.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Voyol Voy"ol, n. (Naut.) (a) See Viol, 2. (b) The block through which a messenger passes. [Written also viol, and voyal.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(viols) Viols are a family of musical instruments that are made of wood and have six strings. You play the viol with a bow while sitting down. N-VAR: oft the N

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heb. nebel (Isa. 5:12, R.V., "lute;" 14:11), a musical instrument, usually rendered "psaltery" (q.v.)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

vi'-ol (nebhel, nebhel): the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) in Isa 14:11; Am 5:23; 6:5; the King James Version alone in Isa 5:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "lute." "Viol" is derived from Latin vitella, a doublet of vitula, a "viol"; hence, French vielle, doublet of viole. The viol was a bowed instrument, the parent of the violin tribe, and is not a true equivalent for nebhel.

See MUSIC.

Moby Thesaurus

baritone, bass viol, descant viol, rebec, tenor viol, treble viol, tromba marina, trumpet marine, vielle, viol family, viola bastarda, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, viola da spalla, viola di bordone, viola di fagotto, viola pomposa, violette