viella

1 viella [ME, AN viele, OF vïelle], (mus.) sort of (bowed) stringed instrument, fiddle or sim. (v. et. fidula, 1 fiola). cum ‥ vidisset ‥ citharas, ~as, et alia instrumenta delectabilia O. Cheriton Par. 75; melius resonant ~e Gilb. III 144v. 2; pleno plena viella gaudio J. Howd. Ph. 359; lingua Gregorii / ‥ / et viella dulcis Ambrosii / his accedunt testes eximii Ib. 836; 1306 cum cytharis ~is et aliis ‥ instrumentis DocCOx 165; tympano ‥ pro musica gaudent [sc. Hiberni]. Scotia vero lyra ‥ raro viala. Wallia tibicina Eul. Hist. II 126; hec vetella, a rybybe WW; zambuca, cithare, situleque, tubeque, vielle R. Maidstone Conc. 293; a fidylle, vidula, videla, ~a CathA.

2 viella [? cf. OF vielle], ? old woman. 1220 de forinseco hundredo de Awilton vij solidos pro viella mortua (Hants) KR Mem 3 m. 12d..