bass viol

[ beys ]

/ beɪs /

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noun

viola da gamba.

double bass.

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Origin of bass viol

First recorded in 1580–90

Words nearby bass viol

bass reflex, bass response, bass saxophone, bass staff, Bass Strait, bass viol, basswood, bast, basta, bastard, bastard amber

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bass viol in a sentence

He captures Ramone and his second wife, Barbara, together in the studio in one photo, him on bass, her on guitar.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Very bass-y house, if I was in my element and playing what I like to play.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The drumbeat and synth bass are as insistent as they are ominous.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was one night, with Tony Williams on drums and, I think, Richard Davis on bass.
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth|David Yaffe|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tony's stool was nearer to the bass keys of the piano, while the sofa Lettice lay upon had certainly been drawn up towards him.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
The melody or tune is played on one of the pipes furnished with holes for the purpose, while the other three give a drone, bass.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
The chief reason is that g is the top note of the string bass, and is called for in orchestral transcriptions.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
Mr. Betts, of London, had one for which he refused the enormous sum of £500, and Dragonetti also refused £800 for a double bass.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
According to his plan a "Suitable Bass" tablet is provided just above the rear end of the black keys on each manual.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller

British Dictionary definitions for bass viol

bass viol

/ (beɪs) /

noun

another name for viola da gamba

US a less common name for double bass (def. 1)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for bass viol

bass viol

[ (veye-uhl) ]

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.