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

  1. Any of various bowed string instruments, often a...

Ancestry of “fiddle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishfiþeleA string instrument played with a bow; a viol
2Old Englishfiþelefiddle, viol, violin
3Medieval Latinvitulastringed instrument
4LatinVitulathe Roman goddess of joy and victory. See

Words derived from “fiddle”

Every word from Latin Vitula →Every word from Medieval Latin vitula →Every word from Old English fiþele →
fiddle — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer