viol
/ˈvaɪ.əl/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.28 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
noun
A large rope used to manipulate the anchor
verb
To play the viol.
Example Sentences
- "He sayd that yᵉ ground opened, and he was brought into strange places underground, where they used musicall Instruments, violls, and Lutes, such (he sayd) as Mr. Thomas did play on."
- "“Keep your gold for those who lack it, mistress,” said Henry, “and do not offer to honest hands the money that is won by violing, and tabouring, and toetripping, and perhaps worse pastimes."
- "Through snowy woods and shady / We went to play a tune / To the lonely manor-lady / By the light of the Christmas moon. / We violed till, upward glancing / To where a mirror leaned, / It showed her airily dancing […]"
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French viole, from Old French viol, from Old Occitan viola (modern Occitan viula), from Medieval Latin vitula (“stringed instrument”). Doublet of viola.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Inflected Forms
viols (plural)
viols (present, singular)
violing (US, participle)
violling (UK, participle)
violed (US, participle)
violed (US, past)
violled (UK, participle)
violled (UK, past)