by Miles Hoffman

From the 1400's to the 1700's, the Italian word viola was the general term for any stringed instrument played with a bow. Viola da braccio, or "arm viola," was the generic name for any member of what we now call the modern violin family.

And even though it was always played between the legs, the instrument we now call the cello was first called the basso di viola da braccio, or "bass arm viola." The word cello, believe it or not, comes from an Italian word meaning "little big viola."

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Source: http://etvradio.org/