fiddle-bow

The musician carefully tightens the horsehair on his fiddle-bow.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bow for a fiddle: "fiddle-bow" refers to the bow used to play a fiddle (a stringed instrument, typically a violin). It is a stick strung with horsehair that is drawn across the strings to produce sound.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The musician tightened the horsehair on his fiddle-bow before the concert. (The bow was prepared for playing the fiddle.)
  • She replaced the broken fiddle-bow with a new one. (The bow used for the fiddle was exchanged for a different one.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use a fiddle-bow": to play a fiddle by drawing the bow across its strings.
  • He learned to use a fiddle-bow with precision, producing a clear tone. (He mastered the technique of bowing the fiddle.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fiddlestick (n): a synonym for a fiddle-bow; also used in the idiom "fiddlesticks" as an exclamation of mild annoyance.
  • He tapped his fiddlestick on the music stand to signal the start. (He used his fiddle-bow to get attention.)

Synonyms

• Bow: a general term for the stick used to play stringed instruments like the violin or fiddle.
• Fiddlestick: an alternative name for the same object.

Related Idioms

• "Fiddlesticks!": an exclamation expressing disbelief or irritation (not directly related to the object itself).
  • Fiddlesticks! I forgot my fiddle-bow at home. (A mild expression of frustration.)