Giga (instrument)

The giga was a type of bowed lyre, it was very popular especially in Norway, but also common to find in England, Iceland and Denmark. It is considered to be extinct; however there are some interesting reconstruction projects. The name does not originate from Latin, but rather derives from an old Viking word that meaning for "to vibrate", "to move in a fast way": this term is also the origin for the name of the dance called Jig that is very common in Northern Europe, especially in the British isles.