Wood from certain trees (especially sycamore or maple) that has a distinctive wavy grain pattern resembling a violin's back, used in making musical instruments.
Compound of 'fiddle' (violin) and 'back.' The pattern was named by woodworkers and luthiers who noticed the grain resembled the back panel of violins, which must be acoustically selected for quality.
Violin makers discovered that this specific wood grain pattern wasn't just beautiful—it actually affects how sound resonates, so the name connects aesthetics to acoustics in a way that helped craftsmen identify superior materials.
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