Books on Violin Family Instruments etc.

[David Powell]

Originally Posted by Bob Reynolds

Does anyone know where the term "F-Hole" came from
in respect to the Violin family of instruments.

Obviously, it is shaped similar to the letter F.
Someone told me it meant "Florentine" but I
cannot find any information in any books or online.

It is curious really because at the time f-holes largely replaced C-holes, that letter that now looks like an "f" was in middle English the "ss". If you can find a first folio of Shakespeare you will see it everywhere there is a word with "ss". So it is really an "ss" hole.
Hmm. Maybe that's why they call it an f-hole ....