rebab

[ ri-bahb ]

noun

1. a Near Eastern fiddle having one to three strings and played with a bow.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebab¹

1730–40; < Arabic rabāb; rebec

Example Sentences

This rebab is an exact counterpart of the rebec formerly popular in Western Europe.

From Project Gutenberg

Orpheus is holding an instrument, which appears to be a rebab, against his chin, in the act of bowing and stopping the strings.

From Project Gutenberg

The bow developed very slowly in Europe and remained a crude instrument as long as it was applied to the rebab and its hybrids.

From Project Gutenberg

He was very angry when told to go, and broke a rebab we had given him to play on, for he could both play and sing well.

From Project Gutenberg

We have had some singing to-night, and playing of the rebab.

From Project Gutenberg