The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bass viol \Bass" vi`ol\ (Mus.) A stringed instrument of the viol family, used for playing bass. See 3d Bass, n., and Violoncello.
Wiktionary
n. A fretted, bowed, stringed musical instrument from the viola da gamba family. It occupies the bass range and is the lowest instrument in the family. Similar to (but smaller than) a cello.
WordNet
n. viol that is the bass member of the viol family with approximately the range of the cello [syn: viola da gamba]
largest and lowest member of the violin family [syn: bass fiddle, bull fiddle, double bass, contrabass, string bass]
Usage examples of "bass viol".
He had a good ear for music, and was no indifferent performer on the violin, which he used to play like a bass viol, seated on a chair with the instrument between his legs.
He seemed to hear every instrument from fife to bass viol simultaneously, and yet, paradoxically, each rang in his ear in solitary clearness.
They varied in color from pale pink to deep purple-a drummer, a trumpeter, a clarinetist, and a bass viol player.