I. viol
obsolete
variant of vial
II. vi·ol ˈvī(ə)l sometimes -ī(ˌ)ōl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French viole viol, viola, from Old Provençal viola, viula viol, probably from Medieval Latin vitula fiddle — more at fiddle
1. : a bowed stringed musical instrument chiefly of the 16th and 17th centuries made with a relatively deep body and flat back and sloping shoulders, usually six strings tuned in fourths, and fretted fingerboard, and a low-arched bridge, made in treble, alto, tenor, and bass sizes, and played in a vertical position resting on or between the knees of the player — see contrabass , treble , viol , viola da braccio , viola da gamba
2. : a labial pipe-organ stop with string tone
III. vi·ol ˈvī(ə)l noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
archaic : a large rope used especially in weighing anchor
IV. viol abbreviation
Etymology: Latin violaceus
purple