scordatura

[ skawr-duh-too r-uh; Italian skawr-dah-too-rah ]
/ ˌskɔr dəˈtʊər ə; Italian ˌskɔr dɑˈtu rɑ /

noun, plural scor·da·tu·re [skawr-duh-too r-ey; Italian skawr-dah-too-re] /ˌskɔr dəˈtʊər eɪ; Italian ˌskɔr dɑˈtu rɛ/, scor·da·tu·ras. Music.

the tuning of a stringed instrument in other than the usual way to facilitate the playing of certain compositions.

Origin of scordatura

1875–80; < Italian, equivalent to scordat(o), past participle of scordare to be out of tune (< Latin discordāre; see discord) + -ura noun suffix