a modern musical instrument, so called by its inventor Poullain. It was shaped like a piano-forte, had similar finger-keys, and its sounds were produced by the friction of a circular bow upon the strings. It imitated the tones of the viola, the viola, the violoncello, the viol d'amour, the double-bass, &c. The construction of the bow (of hair, &c.) is said to have been very curious and ingenious.