Why such a strange name for this musical instrument – arpeggione?
Originally, the instrument was simply named “guitare-violoncell” The first performer of the “arpeggione” sonata, Vincent Schuster, published a self-tutorial on playing the guitare-violoncell.
The name arpeggione appears to belong to Schubert himself. It is based on the musical technique of the arpeggio. Indeed, it is very easy to play arpeggio accords using all the strings. In the famous sonata this technique is used many times.
The instrument’s maker himself called it the guitar of love – «Liebes-Gitarre» . For its very lyrical sound.
It seems to me the most logical way to name this musical instrument a bowed guitar.