frottola

noun

frot·​to·​la
ˈfrȯtᵊlə,
ˈfrät-,
It ˈfrȯttōlä
plural frottole
-ᵊlˌā,
-ōlā
: a secular part-song of Italy of the 15th and 16th centuries that is largely homophonic and has the music repeated with each verse

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Old Italian, from frotta crowd, multitude, from Middle French flote, from Old French, from (assumed) Old Italian flotta, alteration of (assumed) flotto, from Latin fluctus action of flowing, flood, wave

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near frottola

Cite this Entry

“Frottola.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frottola. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!