rebec

Where does the word "rebec" come from? It comes from Arabic rabab, passing through Old French before entering English (early 1400s).

Rebec’s story begins in Arabic: rabab meant “bowed stringed instrument.” Named a bowed stringed instrument. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Old French as ribabe. Carried the instrument into medieval European music. By 1400s, Old French speakers had reshaped it into rebec. Reshaped, perhaps influenced by "bec" (beak), for the instrument's pointed shape. It reached English by early 1400s as rebec. Entered English for the small medieval three-stringed fiddle. Today, rebec means a small medieval three-stringed musical instrument with a pear-shaped body, played with a bow.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval rabab "bowed stringed instrument", named a bowed stringed instrument.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1200s ribabe "bowed instrument", carried the instrument into medieval European music.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · 1400s rebec "pear-shaped bowed instrument", reshaped, perhaps influenced by "bec" (beak), for the instrument's pointed shape.
4. Stage 4 · English · early 1400s rebec "medieval bowed stringed instrument", entered English for the small medieval three-stringed fiddle.