philomel

philomel (plural philomels)

1. (poetic) The nightingale.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet CII”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

     As Philomel in summer's front doth sing.

   • 1713, Anne Finch, A Nocturnal Reverie:

     And lonely Philomel, still waking, sings.

   • 1600, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd:

     And Philomel becometh dumb.

2. A musical instrument similar to the violin, but having four steel-wire strings.

• Philomela