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What is "roundelay"

Crossword clues for roundelay

roundelay
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Roundelay

Roundelay \Round"e*lay\, n. [OF. rondelet, dim. of rondel. See Roundel, Roundeau, and cf. Roundlet, Rundlet.]

  1. (Poetry) See Rondeau, and Rondel.

  2. (Mus.)

    1. A tune in which a simple strain is often repeated; a simple rural strain which is short and lively.
      --Spenser.
      --Tennyson.

    2. A dance in a circle.

  3. Anything having a round form; a roundel.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
roundelay

1570s, from Middle French rondelet, diminutive of rondel "short poem with a refrain," literally "small circle," diminutive of Old French rond "circle, sphere," originally an adjective from roont (see round (adj.)). Spelling developed by association with lay (n.) "poem to be sung."

Wiktionary
roundelay

n. 1 (context music English) A poem or song having a line or phrase repeated at regular intervals. 2 A dance in a circle. 3 Anything having a round form; a roundel.

WordNet
roundelay

n. a song in which a line or phrase is repeated as the refrain

Usage examples of "roundelay".

Robin: The merry merle on leafy spray, The lark on fluttering wing Do pipe a joyous roundelay, To greet the blithesome spring.

Come on, let's get out of this awful place, and try to think of some way to make Roundelay get the Circlet for us.