villanella

noun

vil·​la·​nel·​la ˌvi-lə-ˈne-lə How to pronounce villanella (audio)
plural villanelle ˌvi-lə-ˈne-lē How to pronounce villanella (audio)
1
: a 16th century Italian part-song in an intentionally unsophisticated style
2
: an instrumental piece in the style of a rustic dance

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from villano villein, peasant, from Medieval Latin villanus

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of villanella was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near villanella

villancico

villanella

villanelle

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Villanella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/villanella. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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