In the Italy of the mid-sixteenth century, bowed instruments were distinguished from each other on the basis of playing position : the lira da braccio was the "lyre of the arms", the lira da gamba was the "lyre of the knees", viola da gamba meant the "knee viola", and viola da braccio the "arm viola". Viola da braccio became the general name for the whole of the violin family. Soprano di viola da braccio "the descant arm viola" signified the violin itself.
In the mid-1530's a diminutive form was coined for the violin : "violino". It should be remarked that the word "violon" appears a little earlier in the French language. This term originates in the Italian word "violone" ('-one' signifying "great"), and in the sixteenth century generally indicated the viola da gamba family of instruments. The oldest name for the violin in Italy was "violon(e) de braccio". The French absorbed the word through the area of northern Italy which they governed. The viola da gamba family had their own French word "viole", leading to the meaning of "violon(e)" as the violin. The word became confused with the Italian "violon(e)", which occured both with and without the letter E at the end. The term then became confused with the viola da gamba, as already explained. The Italian word "violino" also included a further meaning when used in Venice, which includes also the viola.
"Violino piccolo" signified the small violin, which was tuned a third above the ordinary violin. The "Violino piccolo alla francecesca" was also a small violin type instrument, tuned a full octave above the violin. "Violino ordinaro" meant the viola.
After the mid-sixteenth century "violino" became the common word for the violin, and this became the established form. Even after this, in some contexts the words "rebeccino", "lira" and "violetta" might indicate the violin. In the seventeenth century the word "violone" indicated the double bass gamba and the word "violetta" indicated the da braccio instruments, or the modern viola.
