Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Viola
‖
Vi′o-la
,Noun.
[L., a violet. See
Violet
.] (Bot.)
A genus of polypetalous herbaceous plants, including all kinds of violets.
Vi′o-la
,Noun.
[It. See
Viol
.] (Mus.)
An instrument in form and use resembling the violin, but larger, and a fifth lower in compass.
‖
Viola da braccio
[It., viol for the arm]
, the tenor viol, or viola, a fifth lower than the violin. Its part is written in the alto clef, hence it is sometimes called the
– ‖alto
. Viola da gamba
[It., viol for the leg]
, an instrument resembling the viola, but larger, and held between the knees. It is now rarely used.
– ‖Viola da spalla
[It., viol for the shoulder]
, an instrument formerly used, resembling the viola, and intermediate in size between the viola and the viola da gamba.
– ‖Viola di amore
[It., viol of love: cf. F.
, viole d’amour
]a viol, larger than the viola, having catgut strings upon, and brass or steel wires under, the keyboard. These, sounding sympathetically with the strings, yield a peculiarly soft and silvery sound. It is now seldom used.