rebec

American  

[ree-bek] / ˈri bɛk /

Or rebeck

noun

1. a Renaissance fiddle with a pear-shaped body tapering into a neck that ends in a sickle-shaped or scroll-shaped pegbox.

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rebec British  

/ ˈriːbɛk /

noun

1. a medieval stringed instrument resembling the violin but having a lute-shaped body

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Etymology

Origin of rebec

1745–55; < Middle French; replacing Middle English ribibe < Old French rebebe ≪ Arabic rabāb rebab

Example Sentences

Organist Tina Chancey and stringed instrument musicians on the vielle, rebec and viola da gamba will perform a prelude of medieval, Renaissance and baroque works by Jehan de l’Escurel, Guillaume de Machaut, Tobias Hume, Diego Ortiz, Christopher Simpson, Johannes Schenk, Du Buisson and Karl Friedrich Abel.

From Washington Post

Instrumental accompaniment was provided by Mr. Metcalfe on vielle, a medieval type of violin, and harp, and Laura Jeppesen, who switched between vielle and rebec, another precursor of the modern violin.

From New York Times

He switched between the rebab, an Arabic bowed instrument with a timbre that can sound either raspy or lyrical, depending on how you play it, and its smaller, lighter-voiced European descendant, the rebec.

From New York Times

Rebec, Rebeck, rē′bek, n. a musical instrument of the violin kind, with three strings played with a bow, introduced by the Moors into Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

Hark! hark! the rebec calls,—Glycere Again may foot it on the green; Her rivalry I need not fear, These flowers shall crown the Village Queen.

From Project Gutenberg