Noun
braccio (plural braccia)
An Italian measure of length, varying from half a yard to a yard.
Both "vihuela" and "viola" were originally used in a fairly generic way, having included even early violins (viola da braccio) under their umbrella. Source: Internet
During the Renaissance the gambas were important and elegant instruments; they eventually lost ground to the louder (and originally less aristocratic) lira da braccio family. stringed instrument. Source: Internet
In Italy, "viola" was first applied to a braccio precursor to the modern violin, as described by Tinctoris (De inventione et usu musice, c. 1481–3), and then was later used to describe the first Italian viols as well. Source: Internet
When Monteverdi called simply for "viole da braccio" in "Orfeo", the composer was requesting violas as well as treble and bass instruments. Source: Internet
Further examples are the Italian words uovo ("egg") and braccio ("arm"). Source: Internet
The violin, or violino, was originally the soprano viola da braccio, or violino da braccio. Source: Internet