philomel
nounEtymology From philo- + mel(os).
1
Poetic The nightingale.
- As Philomel in summer's front doth sing.1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet CII”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
- And lonely Philomel, still waking, sings.1713, Anne Finch, A Nocturnal Reverie:
1 more example
- And Philomel becometh dumb.1600, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd:
2
A musical instrument similar to the violin, but having four steel-wire strings.
- Related terms
- Philomela