A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Fiddle
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The Germans have three terms for the instrument—Fiedel, Geige, and Violine.
FIDDLE. The old English word, before 'viol' came in, and still the more idiomatic of the two. Both are possibly derived from the same root—vitula, a calf, from the springing motion of dancers (Dies and Littré; and compare the connection of Geige and jig). Fiddlestick is the violin-bow, as in the Epigram on a Bad Fiddler:—
Old Orpheus play'd so well he mov'd Old Nick,
Whilst thou mov'st nothing—but thy fiddlestick.
[ G. ]