violin/violoncello

[Eileen Opiolka]

So many musical instruments have interesting names: from violoncello, saxophone and pianoforte/fortepiano to ocarina and didgeridoo. Some names, like the instruments, are more melodious than others.

[Slava]

Fun little wander here, I looked up ocarina and found that it is so named because it theoretically resembles a goose, an oca, using the Italian diminutive ocarina. Oca comes from the diminutive of avis (bird), avicula. My question is this; when did the goose become a diminutive bird?