machicotage

noun

ma·​chi·​co·​tage
¦mashə̇kō¦täzh
plural -s
: the embellishment of the solo part of plain song by the insertion of ornaments between the authentic tones

Word History

Etymology

French, from machicoter to embellish plain song (from machicot, a former choir official in the chapter of Notre Dame in Paris, France) + French -age

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 machicotage

Cite this Entry

“Machicotage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machicotage. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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