Kit

Kit (Fr.: poche, pochette; Ger.: Taschengeige; It.: sordino; Lat.: linterculus), obs. tiny fiddle, last survivor of the med. rebec. It appeared in the 16th c. and established itself as a dancing master's fiddle, housed in its master's pocket. Mersenne explains its Fr. name (meaning pocket) from this use. Trichet, ca. 1640, describes it as made of 2 pieces of wood glued together, 1 for the bottom, sides, neck, and head, the other for the soundboard. Praetorius calls it a gar klein Geiglein and…