On the etymology of violin and vitula

The word “violin” comes from Italian violino, a diminutive form of viola, which owes its roots to Medieval Latin vitula (“stringed instrument”). This latin word is believed to stem from Vitula, Roman goddess of joy, or from related Latin verb vitulari, “to exult, be joyful.”

1. What is the etymology of Vitula?
2. What is the Latin word for violin?
3. What is the small violin instrument?

What is the etymology of Vitula?

Etymology. Feminine counterpart of vitulus (“a [male] calf”). Whether the word for a string instrument is from this source is quite uncertain; it may also be a borrowing from Frankish *fiþulā (“violin, fiddle”).

What is the Latin word for violin?

The word 'violin' originates from the Latin 'Vitula' (see chart). The word 'vitulare' meant 'to sing or rejoice'. 'Vitula' also referred to a fiddle, as well as a calf or heifer (were these words related by the fact that the heifer was used for making the gut strings of the fiddle?).

What is the small violin instrument?

The pochette is a small stringed instrument of the bowed variety. It is essentially a very small violin-like wood instrument designed to fit in a pocket, hence its common name, the "pochette" (French for small pocket).