viola da braccio

American  

[vee-oh-luh duh brah-choh] / viˈoʊ lə də ˈbrɑ tʃoʊ /

noun

plural

viola da braccios

1. an old musical instrument of the viol family, held against the shoulder like a violin: superseded by the modern viola.

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viola da braccio British  

/ vɪˈəʊlə də ˈbrætʃɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. an old name for viola 1

2. a type of viol held on the shoulder, from which the modern viola was developed

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Etymology

Origin of viola da braccio

< Italian: literally, viola for the arm