archilute
|ar-chi-lute|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑr.kɪˌluːt/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑː.kɪˌluːt/
extended lute with bass strings
Etymology
'archilute' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'arciliuto', where 'arci-' (from Latin/Greek 'archi-' through Italian) meant 'chief, principal' and 'liuto' meant 'lute'.
'arciliuto' (Italian) entered English as 'archilute' (and sometimes 'archlute'); 'liuto' itself derives from the name for the instrument that passed from Arabic 'al-ʿūd' into Medieval/Old French 'luth' and Italian 'liuto', eventually yielding English 'lute'.
Initially, the term carried the sense of a 'chief' or 'principal' lute (an enlarged lute with added bass strings); over time it became the specific name for the historical instrument used in late Renaissance and Baroque repertoire.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a large type of lute developed in the late Renaissance and Baroque periods, featuring an extended neck and additional unstopped (bass) strings, used especially for basso continuo and solo repertoire.
The ensemble included an archilute to provide a rich basso continuo beneath the singers.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/07 00:04