A large lute with a double set of strings, popular in Renaissance and Baroque music, having both melody and accompanying bass strings.
From 'arch-' meaning 'great' or 'principal' and 'lute,' named to indicate it was a superior or enlarged version of the standard lute.
The archlute was the guitar amplifier of the Baroque period—composers literally couldn't write dramatic bass lines until this bigger, louder lute came along, completely changing what was possible in chamber music.
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