oud, stringed musical instrument prominent in medieval and contemporary Islamic music. It is the guardian of the ecu lute. The oud contains a deep pear-formed body, a fretless fingerboard, and a comparatively shorter neck and rather less acutely bent-back pegbox than the European lute. Alfonso X, “The Wise”, 1221-1284, https://williamo431myj2.wikienlightenment.com/user