vihuela

From Spanish vihuela.

vihuela (plural vihuelas)

1. (music) A guitar-like string instrument of 15th- and 16th-century Spain, usually with six courses or sets of strings (twelve strings in total).
2. (music) A guitar-like string instrument of 19th-century Mexico with five strings, typically played in mariachi bands.

• vihuelist

Cf. viola. Probably from Old Occitan viola (cf. modern Occitan viula), possibly from a Medieval Latin vitula. Compare also Italian and Portuguese viola, French vielle, viole.

vihuela f (plural vihuelas)

1. (music) vihuela