nun's fiddle
Rare / ObsoleteHistorical / Humorous / Colloquial (archaic)
Definition
Meaning
A slang or humorous name for the medieval string instrument, the viola da gamba.
Used historically and humorously to refer to any string instrument, particularly one played upright, or metaphorically for anything that appears fiddly or difficult to manage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily found in historical texts and musical history discussions. Its usage is now almost exclusively facetious or in historical reference. The term carries a mild, archaic whimsy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare and historical in both variants, with no significant regional distinction in contemporary usage.
Connotations
Historical curiosity with a playful, slightly irreverent tone (referring to a nun's instrument).
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern corpora. More likely to be encountered in historical novels or specialised texts on early music in the UK, but this is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] plays the nun's fiddle.The [instrument] is a nun's fiddle.They called it a nun's fiddle.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's as melancholy as a nun's fiddle. (archaic, implying a sad or mournful sound/person)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical musicology or cultural studies texts as a period colloquialism.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be considered obscure and confusing.
Technical
Not a standard term in modern instrument classification; a historical footnote.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This old painting shows a woman playing a nun's fiddle.
- In the museum, we saw a musical instrument labelled as a 'nun's fiddle'.
- The viola da gamba, colloquially known as a nun's fiddle in some old texts, has a softer tone than the cello.
- The archivist discovered a 17th-century inventory listing 'one nun's fiddle, much worn,' which turned out to be a valuable bass viol by John Rose.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a medieval nun in her habit, not praying, but playing a large, upright 'fiddle' between her knees—an amusingly incongruous image for a viol.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN INSTRUMENT IS A PERSON'S CHARACTERISTIC TOOL (with humorous/specific attribution).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation ('скрипка монахини') as it would not be understood as a viola da gamba. The correct modern Russian term is 'виола да гамба' or simply 'виола'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a contemporary term for any violin. Thinking it refers to a specific instrument played only by nuns. Capitalising the term as if it were a formal name.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'nun's fiddle'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's not a distinct instrument but a historical slang name for the viola da gamba, a family of Renaissance and Baroque string instruments.
It would be considered very obscure and potentially confusing. Use 'viola da gamba' or simply 'viol' for clarity.
The exact origin is unclear, but it likely stems from the instrument's use in religious settings or from a humorous, slightly irreverent nickname for its appearance or sound.
No, it is an archaic, playful term with no modern derogatory intent, though its historical context should be considered.