What is the Latin word for violin?

The usual Latin words for “violin” are violīna, canō, sciō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“violin” in Latin

violīnaViolin canōto sing, recite, play; to sound, play, blow (a trumpet), especially a military call; to foretell, predict, prophesy sciōto be able to, to know (how to do), understand, to have practical knowledge; to have had sex with, have ever slept with

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

violin

*violina (must be retained, perhaps with quae dicta, for fides has much too wide a signification; neither do tetrachordum or barbitos suit). To play on the violin, violina, canere; (well), scite: a player on the violin, *violinista (analogously with citharista); or *violina canere doctus. ☞ In Latin of the Middle Ages, this instrument is called giga or gugalia.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for violin?: The usual Latin words for “violin” are violīna, canō, sciō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.