Where does “fiddle” come from?
Fiddle comes from Middle English fithele, from Old English fiþele, from Medieval Latin vitula, from Latin Vitula, a goddess or personification associated with rejoicing.
fiddle (English): Any of various bowed string instruments, often a...
Definitions
- Any of various bowed string instruments, often a...
Ancestry of “fiddle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | fiþele | A string instrument played with a bow; a viol |
| 2 | Old English | fiþele | fiddle, viol, violin |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | vitula | stringed instrument |
| 4 | Latin | Vitula | — |
Words derived from “fiddle”