An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fiedel

by Friedrich Kluge

Fiedel, f., from the equiv. MidHG. videl, videle, f., OHG. fidula (as early as Otfried), f., ‘fiddle, violin’; comp. Du. vedel, AS. fiþele, E. fiddle, OIc. fiþla. OHG. fidula is based, according to AS. fiþele, ‘fiddle,’ fiþelêre, ‘fiddler,’ fiþelestre, ‘fidicina,’ upon an older West Teut. *fiþula. The latter form with þ might be deduced from Lat. *fitula or fidula (for fidicula?), yet these primary forms are not recorded. There is undeniable connection between the Teut. class and the Romance cognates — Ital. viola, Fr. viole, ‘violin,’ the origin of which, it is true, is much disputed. Still Harfe found its way from Teut. into Romance.