Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “viola da gamba” come from?

viola da gamba (English) comes from Italian viola da gamba, from Italian gamba, from Latin gamba, from Ancient Greek κάμπη, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂emp-, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em- — to bend, to curve.

viola da gamba (English): Synonym of viol

Definitions

  1. Synonym of viol

Ancestry of “viola da gamba”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianviola da gambaviola da gamba
2Italiangambaleg; leg , shank; stroke
3Latingambahock, shank; leg, thigh
4Ancient Greekκάμπηcaterpillar; silkworm; an eruciform ornament
5Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂emp-to bend; crooked; to bend, curve
6Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂em-to bend, to curve

Words derived from “viola da gamba”

  • gamba
  • gambist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em- →