bowed lyre

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bowed lyre. Instr. known in Middle Ages by variety of names—cruit, crot, rota, rotta, crwth, crouthe, chorus, and others—of which the Welsh crwth has survived longest. The bowed lyre was made from one piece, the yoke's resonator and pillars being hollowed out and the soundboard added. Fitted with plain pegs which required a tuning key.

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