cello

cello · noun¹

1. Italian · derived fromvioloncello“little violone”
2. English todaycello

Clipping of violoncello, the original name, from Italian violoncello (“little violone”), from violone (“an early form of the double bass”) + -cello (“-elle”, forming diminutives), violone (“big viola”) itself being derived from viola + -one (“-oon”, forming augmentatives).

cello · noun²

Shortening of cellophane.

Words from the same roots