rebec

(rē′bek′)

noun

a three-stringed, pear-shaped musical instrument played with a bow: a precursor of the violin, used during the Middle Ages

Origin: Fr, altered < OFr rebebe < Ar rabāb

See rebec in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also re·beck

noun
Music

A pear-shaped, two-stringed or three-stringed medieval instrument, played with a bow.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , alteration (influenced by bec, beak, from its shape)

Origin: of rebebe

Origin: , from Old Provençal rebeb

Origin: , from Arabic rabāb

Origin: , from rabba, to be master, control; see rbb in Semitic roots

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