1
Stage 1 of 4
vitula
Latin · ancient
"a stringed instrument"
a word for a stringed instrument, possibly linked to Vitula, a Roman goddess of joy
2
Stage 2 of 4
viola
Old Provencal · medieval
"a stringed instrument"
kept the sense of a bowed stringed instrument
3
Stage 3 of 4
viola
Italian · medieval
"a bowed stringed instrument"
developed into a family of bowed instruments preceding the violin
4
Stage 4 of 4
viola
English · 1797
"a tenor-range bowed stringed instrument"
borrowed for the tenor member of the violin family
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom