VIELLE, a French term, derived from Lat. fidicula, embrac ing two distinct types of instruments: (I) from the 12th to the beginning of the 15th century bowed instruments having a box soundchest with ribs; (2) from the middle or end of the I 5th century, the hurdy-gurdy (q.v.). The most common shape given
to the earliest vielles in France was an oval, which with its modi fications remained in favour until the guitar-fiddle, the Italian Lyra, asserted itself as the finest type, from which also the violin was directly evolved.