An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Fiedel
Fiedel, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German videl, videle, feminine, Old High German fidula (as early as Otfried), feminine, ‘fiddle, violin’; compare Dutch vedel, Anglo-Saxon fiþele, English fiddle, Old Icelandic fiþla. Old High German fidula is based, according to Anglo-Saxon fiþele, ‘fiddle,’ fiþelêre, ‘fiddler,’ fiþelestre, ‘fidicina,’ upon an older West Teutonic *fiþula. The latter form with þ might be deduced from Latin *fitula or fidula (for fidicula?), yet these primary forms are not recorded. There is undeniable connection between the Teutonic class and the Romance cognates — Italian viola, French viole, ‘violin,’ the origin of which, it is true, is much disputed. Still Harfe found its way from Teutonic into Romance.