Viols are bowed string instruments usually held downwards and therefore described as viole da gamba (‘leg-viols’), as opposed to instruments like the violin and its predecessors, held horizontally and described as viole da braccio (‘arm-viols’). Viols are made in various sizes, generally with six strings and with frets: lengths of gut tied round th [..]

stringed musical instrument played with a bow, late 15c., viel, from Middle French viole, from Old French viol "stringed instrument like a fiddle," from Old Provençal viola (see viola).

Viol [N] [S]Heb. nebel ( Isaiah 5:12 , RSV, "lute;" 14:11 ), a musical instrument, usually rendered "psaltery" (q.v.)

[Psaltery]

Heb. nebel (Isa. 5:12, R.V., "lute;" 14:11), a musical instrument, usually rendered "psaltery" (q.v.)

English and French name for the viola da gamba.

(n) any of a family of bowed stringed instruments that preceded the violin family

A family of string instruments popular in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They were superseded by the violin family. The standard types are treble/descant viol, tenor viol, and bass viol. A s [..]

Voyal.

(musical instrument) A stringed instruments related to the violin family, but held in the lap between the legs like a cello, usually with C-holes, a flat back, a fretted neck and six strings, played [..]