theorbo

[ thee-awr-boh ]

noun

, plural the·or·bos.

1. an obsolete bass lute with two sets of strings attached to separate peg boxes, one above the other, on the neck.

theorbo

/ θɪˈɔːbəʊ /

noun

1. music an obsolete form of the lute, having two necks, one above the other, the second neck carrying a set of unstopped sympathetic bass strings

Derived Forms

• theˈorbist, noun

Other Words From

• the·orbist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of theorbo¹

1595–1605; < Italian teorba, variant of tiorba, special use of Venetian tiorba, variant of tuorba traveling bag ≪ Turkish torba bag; so called from the bag it was carried in

Word History and Origins

Origin of theorbo¹

C17: from Italian teorba, probably from Venetian, variant of tuorba travelling bag, ultimately from Turkish torba bag

Example Sentences

At noon played on my Theorbo, and much pleased therewith; it is now altered with a new neck.

From Project Gutenberg

She was aught drawing, singing, and to play on the theorbo; had learning, and wrote very agreeable verses.

From Project Gutenberg

Some gust from brave Elizabethan times must have warmed his spirit, as he sat tuning his sublime theorbo.

From Project Gutenberg

The largest member of the ancient lute family—the bass lute or theorbo—has been identified with the barbiton.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a kind of theorbo or bass-lute, but with one neck only, bent back at right angles to form the head.

From Project Gutenberg