violon
(ˈvaɪələn)
Also 6 violan, -and, 7 -ent, vyolon, phialon.
[a. F. violon (16th c.) violin, or (in sense 2) It. violone bass-viol. Cf. Sp. violon violoncello.]
† 1. A violin. Also, a violinist. Obs.
| α 1552 Househ. Exp. Princess Eliz. 38 in Camd. Misc. (1853) II, Paid in rewarde unto sondrie persons at S. James, her grace then beyng there—..to the warderobe, xl.s.; the violans, xl.s. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. i. 39, Were it not,..I coulde finde in my hearte to commaunde the Violands to cease. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry iv. vi. 200 Hee beareth gules, three treble violents transposed argent stringed sable. |
| β 1593 Drayton Eclogues iii. 113 Tune the Taber and the Pipe to the sweet violons. 1602 Carew Cornwall 139 b, He could not only turne, and make Virginals, Organes, Vyolons,..but also tune, and handsomely play vpon them. 1603 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. I. 32 Gifin to a sat of phialonis when they played at my chamber dor, xi s. 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. Tropheis 436 In Argos the chaste Violon For's absent Soveraign doth grave-sweetly grone. |
2. A variety of organ-stop.
| 1852 Seidel Organ 108 Violon..is one of the finest and most common pedal-registers. 1876 J. Hiles Catech. Organ ix. (1878) 63 Violon or Violone, Double Bass. An open flue⁓stop; the tone is penetrating and fine, in imitation of the Double Bass. |