vihuela

English

Etymology

From Spanish vihuela.

Noun

vihuela (plural vihuelas)

1. (music) A guitar-like string instrument of 15th- and 16th-century Spain, usually with six courses or sets of strings (twelve strings in total).
2. (music) A guitar-like string instrument of 19th-century Mexico with five strings, typically played in mariachi bands.

Derived terms

• vihuelist

Spanish

Etymology

Probably from Old Occitan viola (cf. modern Occitan viula), possibly from Medieval Latin vitula. Compare also Italian viola, Portuguese viola, French vielle, viole. Doublet of viola.

Noun

vihuela f (plural vihuelas)

1. (music) vihuela

Further reading

• “vihuela”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014