viola da braccio

noun

vi·​o·​la da brac·​cio

vēˌōlədəˈbrä(ˌ)chō

plural viole da braccio

-(ˌ)lād-

: any bowed stringed instrument of the 16th and 17th centuries played on the shoulder: such as

a

: violin

b

: viola

Word History

Etymology

Italian, arm viol

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

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