villanella

[ vil-uh-nel-uh; Italian veel-lah-nel-lah ]
/ ˌvɪl əˈnɛl ə; Italian ˌvil lɑˈnɛl lɑ /

noun, plural vil·la·nel·le [vil-uh-nel-ee; Italian veel-lah-nel-le] /ˌvɪl əˈnɛl i; Italian ˌvil lɑˈnɛl lɛ/.

a rustic Italian part song without accompaniment.

Origin of villanella

1590–1600; < Italian, feminine of villanello rural, rustic, equivalent to villan(o) peasant, boor (see villain) + -ello -ish

British Dictionary definitions for villanella

villanella
/ (ˌvɪləˈnɛlə) /

noun plural -las

a type of part song originating in Naples during the 16th century

Word Origin for villanella

C16: from Italian, from villano rustic, from Late Latin vīllānus; see villain