Definitions

Sorry, no definitions found. Check out and contribute to the discussion of this word!

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word con legno.

Examples

    Sorry, no example sentences found.

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • A really cool trick with a bowed string instrument (violin, viola, cello, etc.) where the strings are played with the wooden portion of the bow instead of with the hairs.

    September 4, 2008

  • Professional orchestral violinists often keep a second (cheap) bow to use when a composer calls for extended passages of col legno, because it's very bad for the bow! (And some of the good bows are made from beautiful, and now rare/endangered, species of wood.)

    September 4, 2008

  • Oh! Very interesting. I'm always fascinated by unexpected usages of Italian words. :-)

    September 4, 2008

  • Italian - with wood. You probably all got that by now *sigh* Col legno includes the definite article 'il' but is effectively the same term.

    September 4, 2008