bass viol

American  

[beys] / beɪs /

noun

1. viola da gamba.

2. double bass.

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bass viol British  

/ beɪs /

noun

1. another name for viola da gamba

2. a less common name for double bass

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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.

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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

At last the bass viol boomed; then all the little monkeys, blinking and peering, pushed their sad faces against the bars.

From Time Magazine Archive

Violinist Chris Marck was tapped because he had a car large enough to carry a bass viol.

From Time Magazine Archive

Why, thought John, do bass viol players always have that far-away, woebegone look on their faces as they saw at their instruments?

From Spring Street A Story of Los Angeles by James H. Richardson