rebec: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Historical/Musicological
Quick answer
What does “rebec” mean?
A medieval stringed instrument, typically pear-shaped and played with a bow, having three strings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medieval stringed instrument, typically pear-shaped and played with a bow, having three strings.
The term is used in historical and musicological contexts to refer to an early precursor of the violin, prominent in European music from the 10th to the 16th centuries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Evokes medievalism, historical scholarship, and early music in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “rebec” in a Sentence
play (the) rebechear (the) rebectune (the) rebecVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical musicology, medieval studies, and organology (the study of musical instruments).
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used by early music performers, instrument makers, and historians.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rebec”
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rebec”
- Misspelling as 'rebeck' or 'rebbec'.
- Incorrectly classifying it as a percussion or wind instrument.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but primarily by specialist early music ensembles and historical reenactors who focus on authentic medieval performance.
The rebec typically has a pear-shaped body carved from a single piece of wood, often only three strings, and a more nasal, penetrating sound compared to the violin's richer tone.
The word entered English from the French 'rebec', which derived from the Arabic 'rabāb', a class of bowed string instruments.
Yes, many museums with musical instrument collections, such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston or the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, have historical rebecs on display.
A medieval stringed instrument, typically pear-shaped and played with a bow, having three strings.
Rebec is usually technical/historical/musicological in register.
Rebec: in British English it is pronounced /ˈriːbɛk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈriːbɛk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'REBEC' as 'RE' (again, suggesting something old) + 'BEC' (like 'beckon'—an old instrument calling from the past).
Practice
Quiz
What is a rebec?