viola1

[vee-oh-luh] /viˈoʊ lə/
noun
1.
a four-stringed musical instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than the violin; a tenor or alto violin.
2.
a labial organ stop of eight-foot or four-foot pitch, giving tones of a penetrating stringlike quality.
Origin
1715-25; < Italian viola < Old Provençal viola; see viol

viola2

[vahy-uh-luh, vahy-oh-, vee-] /ˈvaɪ ə lə, vaɪˈoʊ-, vi-/
noun
1.
any plant of the genus Viola, especially a cultivated variety.
Compare pansy (def 1), violet (defs 1, 2).
2.
a pansy, V. cornuta, cultivated as a garden plant.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English: violet < Latin: violet

Viola

[vahy-uh-luh, vee-; vahy-oh-luh, vee-] /ˈvaɪ ə lə, ˈvi-; vaɪˈoʊ lə, vi-/
noun
1.
a female given name.
British Dictionary definitions for violas

viola1

/vɪˈəʊlə/
noun
1.
a bowed stringed instrument, the alto of the violin family; held beneath the chin when played. It is pitched and tuned an octave above the cello
2.
any of various instruments of the viol family, such as the viola da gamba
Word Origin
C18: from Italian viola, probably from Old Provençal viola, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Latin vītulārī to rejoice

viola2

/ˈvaɪələ; vaɪˈəʊ-/
noun
1.
any temperate perennial herbaceous plant of the violaceous genus Viola, the flowers of which have showy irregular petals, white, yellow, blue, or mauve in colour See also violet (sense 1), pansy (sense 1)
Word Origin
C15: from Latin: violet
Word Origin and History for violas

viola

n.

tenor violin, 1797, from Italian viola, from Old Provençal viola, from Medieval Latin vitula "stringed instrument," perhaps from Vitula, Roman goddess of joy (see fiddle), or from related Latin verb vitulari "to exult, be joyful." Viola da gamba "bass viol" (1724) is from Italian, literally "a viola for the leg" (i.e. to hold between the legs).

Viola

fem. proper name, from Latin viola "the violet" (see violet).

violas in Culture
viola [(vee-oh-luh)]

A musical instrument shaped like a violin but somewhat larger, lower pitched, and “darker” in tone. A viola player holds a viola like a violin, under the chin.