limma

noun

lim·​ma

ˈlimə

plural limmata

-ətə

1

in ancient Greek music : a semitone in the Pythagorean scale that is less than half a whole step and is designated as the difference between a perfect fourth and two whole steps or 256/243

called also diesis

2

[Late Greek leimma, from Greek] : a pause in Greek verse equivalent to one mora

—symbol Λ, λ, ⋀

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek leimma Pythagorean semitone, remnant, from leipein to leave

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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