quatorzain

noun

qua·​tor·​zain

kəˈtȯrˌzān,

kaˈt-,

-zᵊn;

ˈkatərˌzān

plural -s

: a poem of fourteen lines

specifically : a poem resembling a sonnet but lacking strict sonnet structure

Word History

Etymology

Middle French quatorzaine group of fourteen, from Old French, period of fourteen days, from quatorze fourteen

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!