Forms: α. 5 vyell, 6–7 viall, vyall (6 wyall), 7 vial. β. 6 veol, 6–7 viole (7 vyolle), violl (7 wioll), 7– viol (7 vyol). [Orig. ad. AF. and OF. viele, vielle (see VIELLE), but subsequently assimilated to, or replaced by, OF. and F. viole (= It., Sp., Pg. viola, Prov. viula).
That OF. viole and vielle represent earlier *vidule and *videlle (with variant forms of the diminutive suffix) is indicated by the med.L. vidula, vitula. On the relation of these to Germanic forms, see the note to FIDDLE sb.]
1. A musical instrument (in common use from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century) having five, six or seven strings and played by means of a bow. Now Hist. or arch.
α. 1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, vj. Syre Geffroy called hym before hym and demaunded hym where his vyell and clauycordes were.
a. 1500–34. Cov. Corpus Chr. Pl., I. 538. The whyle thatt I do resst, Trompettis, viallis and othur armone Schall bles the wakyng of my maieste.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, li. 170. He spyed lyeng beside hym an harp and a vyall wheron he coude well play.
1540. Rutland MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), IV. 304. To a man to helpe to bryng the wyalls betwixt Croxton and Belwer, ij d.
1578. E. Cliffe, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1600), III. 751. They were exceedingly delighted with the sound of the trumpet, and vialles.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 102. If any Man think that the String of the Bow, and the String of the Viall, are neither of them Equall Bodies,… he is in an Errour.
1664. Pepys, Diary, 28 Sept. So home, and find Mercer playing on her Vyall, which is a pretty instrument.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1847), 336. Christiana … could play upon the Vial.
β. 1542. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VIII. 149. To be … x pair of hois to the four playerris on the veolis, four trumpettis of ware, and twa taburnerris.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Amos v. 23. For I wil not heare the melodie of thy violes.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 545. Sing vnto him with Viole, and instrument of ten strings.
1604. Dekker, King’s Entertainm., Wks. (1873), I. 307. Nine Boyes … sang the dittie following to their viols and other instruments.
a. 1629. Hinde, J. Bruen, iii. (1641), 10. By occasion of Musitians and a chest of Viols kept in the house, he was drawn by desire and delight into the Dancing-schoole.
1676. T. Mace, Music’s Mon., 247. The Viol is an Instrument … very much in use.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., VIII. 745. Dost call the bowl, the viol, and the dance, Loud mirth, mad laughter?
1776. Hawkins, Hist. Music, IV. III. vii. 339. Compositions of many parts adapted to viols, of which there are many.
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus., s.v., The viol was for a long while in such high esteem as to dispute the pre-eminence with the harp.
1839. Longf., Black Knight, v. Pipe and viol call the dances, Torch-light through the high halls glances.
1875. Fortnum, Maiolica, x. 88. On another [cup] are the figures of a gentleman and a lady who plays the viol, in the costume of the 15th or early 16th century.
† b. One who plays a viol. Obs. rare.
1540. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. xii. 241. Item, for Hans Highorne, Viall, wagis, xxxiij s iiij d.
1647. L. Haward, Crown Rev., 25. Musicians and Players,… Six Sackbuts: Eight Vials: Three Drumsteds.
2. With distinguishing terms, denoting esp. the form or tone of the instrument.
See also BASS-VIOL, gamba viol GAMBA2 1 (quots. 1598, 1710), lyra viol LYRA S, and VIOL DA GAMBA.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 250. I heard much good musicke,… especially that of a treble violl.
1662. [see VIOL DA GAMBA 1].
1664. Pepys, Diary, 5 Oct. The new instrument was brought called the Arched Viall,… being tuned with lute-strings, and played on with kees like an organ.
1724. Short Explic. For. Wds. in Mus. Bks., Viola Bastardo, a Bastard Viol, which is a Bass Violin, strung and fretted like a Bass Viol.
1730. Bailey (fol.), Viola Tenoro, a Tenor-Viol. Ital.
1836. Dubourg, Violin, i. (1878), 9. The viol class—consisting of the viol d’amore, or treble viol; the viol da braccia, or tenor viol; and the viol da gamba, or great viol.
1889. Grove’s Dict. Mus., IV. 267. Viola di Fagotto (Bassoon Viol), a name sometimes given to the Viola Bastarda.
b. Viol d’amore or d’amour (see quot. 1801). Cf. viola d’amore s.v. VIOLA2.
The F. form viole d’amour is also occasionally employed.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 20 Nov. 1679. The viol d’amore of 5 wyre-strings plaied on with a bow.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 145. The psaltery, the viol d’amor, and other instruments.
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus., Viol d’Amour, or Love Viol, a viol, or violin, furnished with six brass or steel wires, instead of sheep’s-gut, and usually played with a bow.
[1856. Mrs. C. Clarke, trans. Berlioz’ Instrumentation, 29. The viole-d’amour is peculiarly appropriate to chords of three, four, or more notes.]
1880. Shorthouse, J. Inglesant, xxiii. If you could accompany me for some months, with your viol d’amore, across the mountains.
1889. Daily News, 25 Jan., 2/2. Two performers upon that once obsolete but recently revived instrument, the viol d’amore.
† 3. A variety of organ-stop. Obs.–1
1688. Ber. Smith, in Hopkins, Organ (1870), 453. Choir Organ…. A Violl and Violin, of mettle,… 61 pipes,… 12 foote.
4. attrib. and Comb., as viol bow, -case, class, -lesson, -play, species, -string; viol-maker, -tuning.
a. 1668. Davenant, Play-house to Let, Wks. (1673), 76. A man may bring a Pageant through the streets As privatly upon my Lord Mayor’s day, As a burden of Viol-cases hither.
1674. Playford, Music, 101 In the choice of your Viol Bow, let it be proportioned to the Viol you use.
1676. T. Mace, Music’s Mon., 258. This … may suffice for the Best Directions in Viol-Play. Ibid., 264. Viol-Lessons of all sorts of Forms, and Shapes; Suited to the Five Best of the Viol-Tunings.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. A Viol-maker, un Faiseur de Violes.
1776. Hawkins, Hist. Music, IV. III. vii. 342. That sweet and delicate tone, which distinguishes the viol species.
1836. [see 2].
1897. H. N. Howard, Footsteps Proserpine, 7. Lile is the viol-string, Love is the melody.
Hence Viol v. intr., to play the viol. rare–1.
1865. J. M. Ludlow, Epics Mid. Ages, II. 212. A thousand dancing, and a thousand violling.
