Editing Violin (section)

== Etymology ==
The word "violin" was first used in English in the 1570s.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=violin |title=Violin |website= www.etymonline.com |publisher= Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=20 May 2017 }}</ref> The word "violin" comes from "Italian {{lang|it|violino}}, a diminutive of [[viola]]. The term "viola" comes from the expression for "tenor violin" in 1797, from Italian and [[Old Provençal]] ''viola'', [which came from] [[Medieval Latin]] {{Lang|la-x-medieval|vitula}} as a term which means {{gloss|stringed instrument}}, perhaps [coming] from [[Vitula (goddess)|Vitula]], Roman goddess of joy..., or from related Latin verb {{lang|la|vitulari}}, "to cry out in joy or exaltation."<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url= http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=viola&allowed_in_frame=0 |title=Viola |website= www.etymonline.com |publisher= Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=20 May 2017 }}</ref> The related term {{lang|it|[[Viola da gamba]]}} meaning {{gloss|bass viol}} (1724) is from Italian, literally "a viola for the leg" (i.e. to hold between the legs)."<ref name="auto1"/> A violin is the "modern form of the smaller, medieval [[Viola da braccio (instrument)|viola da braccio]]." ("arm viola")<ref name="auto"/>

The violin is often called a fiddle. "Fiddle" can be used as the instrument's customary name in folk music, or as an informal name for the instrument in other styles of music.<ref name="ety">{{cite web |url= http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=fiddle |title=Fiddle |website=www.etymonline.com |publisher= Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=20 May 2017 }}</ref> The word "fiddle" was first used in English in the late 14th century.<ref name=ety/> The word "fiddle" comes from "fedele, fydyll, fidel, earlier fithele, from [[Old English]] {{lang|ang|fiðele}} {{gloss|fiddle}}, which is related to [[Old Norse]] {{lang|non|fiðla}}, [[Middle Dutch]] {{lang|dum|vedele}}, Dutch {{lang|nl|vedel}}, [[Old High German]] {{lang|goh|fidula}}, German {{lang|de|Fiedel}}, {{gloss|a fiddle}}; all of uncertain origin." As to the origin of the word "fiddle", the "...usual suggestion, based on resemblance in sound and sense, is that it is from Medieval Latin ''vitula''."<ref name=ety/>