A small cord or string, or historically, a type of musical instrument string made from gut material.
From Latin cordula, a diminutive of chorda (string, cord), which came from Greek khorde. The term reflects the medieval period when animal gut strings were essential for both instruments and practical applications.
Medieval cordulae made from sheep intestines weren't just for instruments—they were used for bowstrings, tennis rackets, and surgical applications, making them one of history's most multipurpose materials before synthetic alternatives existed.
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