A small stringed instrument similar to a violin, or a string on a musical instrument; also spelled canteen or cantina in various contexts.
From Italian cantina (wine cellar) or diminutive forms related to canto (singing/song). The musical meaning possibly derives from the singing quality of the instrument or the context of its use in tavern music.
Cantino appears mainly in historical musical texts and Renaissance documentation, representing the fascinating moment when Italian musical terminology was entering English—many instrument names changed spelling as they crossed linguistic borders.
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