viola da gamba

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/vɪˈəʊlə də ˈɡæmbə/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(vē ō′lə də gäm′bə, -gam′-)

Inflections of 'viola da gamba' (n): npl: viola da gambas

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
vi•o•la da gam•ba  (vē ō′lə də gäm′bə, -gam′-),USA pronunciation pl. viola da gambas. 
  1. Music and Dancean old musical instrument of the viol family, held on or between the knees: superseded by the modern violoncello;
    bass viol.
  2. Music and Dancean organ stop of eight-foot pitch giving a stringlike tone.
  • Italian: literally, viol for the leg
  • 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
viola da gamba /vɪˈəʊlə də ˈɡæmbə/ n
  1. the second largest and lowest member of the viol family
    See viol
Etymology: 18th Century: from Italian, literally: viol for the leg
'viola da gamba' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
bass viol - thorough bass - viola - violone - marais

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