Scan 47
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
16 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 37. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE CROWD.
3My object in drawing attention to the allusions to the crowd, found in the works of early English writers, is to show the improbability that the English obtained the instrument from the Welsh. Indeed, we possess earlier representations and literary records of the crowd played with a bow than we possess of the crwth played with a bow; and we possess earlier evidences of the use of the fiddle-bow with the Anglo-Saxons than with any other race inhabiting the British Isles.
5But, before noticing these evidences, it may be advisable to ascertain how our learned lexicographers explain the origin of the name of the instrument in question.
7R. Nares ("A Glossary," &c.; new edition, London, 1859) states: "Crowd, a fiddle; certainly from the Welsh crwth, though some who are fond of Greek derivations deduce it from κροίω, pulso, though it is not struck or beaten. Crowder, a fiddler."
9Charles Richardson ("A New Dictionary of the English Language," London, 1858) remarks: "Crowd: Spelman says crotta; Skinner prefers the Anglo-Saxon crwth."
11J. O. Halliwell ("A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words," fifth edition, London, 1865) has: "Croud and crouth, a fiddle; crowd, to move one thing across another, to make a grating noise."
13S. Johnson ("A Dictionary of the English Language," edited by R. G. Latham, London, 1876) has: "Crowd (from Welsh crwth), a fiddle."
15These references will suffice. I have only to add that some of the above dictionaries contain quotations from old
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