köken: From Middle Dutch vēdele, borrowed from Medieval Latin vitula (“stringed musical instrument”). Cognate to English fiddle. Doublet of viool and viola.
Compare Old Occitan viola (modern Occitan viula). Possibly ultimately from Medieval Latin vitula. Compare also Catalan, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish viola, Spanish vihuela. Doublet of viole, borrowed from the Old Occitan. See also English fiddle.