viols

vi*ol

noun

{bc}a bowed stringed instrument chiefly of the 16th and 17th centuries made in treble, alto, tenor, and bass sizes and distinguished from members of the {a_link|violin} family especially in having a deep body, a flat back, sloping shoulders, usually six strings, a fretted fingerboard, and a low-arched bridge

bass viol

noun

{bc}{sx|viola da gamba||}