bass viol

American  

[beys] / beɪs /

noun

1. viola da gamba.

2. double bass.

---

bass viol British  

/ beɪs /

noun

1. another name for viola da gamba

2. a less common name for double bass

---

bass viol Cultural  

1. The largest and lowest-pitched instrument of the strings, also called a bass fiddle or double bass. The player must stand or sit on a tall stool to play it.

---

Etymology

Origin of bass viol

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bass viol

In Domenichino’s version, at the Louvre, she is playing “a cantata to the Glory of Saint Cecilia” on the bass viol, which seems like kind of a lot.

From Slate ● May 28, 2020

Most of the pieces sung by Davies were arranged for viol consort by Richard Boothby, co-founder of Fretwork and one of its bass viol players.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 17, 2019

John, who used to play the bass viol and drive the lead wagon over dusty prairie roads, became the router, the greatest transportation expert in the circus business*.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the side, she plays the bass viol, draws cartoons, writes sport features for her hometown newspaper, the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then there came a sudden twang, as of a violently plucked string on a bass viol, and the amber egg dropped from the faceted side.

From Devil Crystals of Arret by Wells, Hal K.