n. & v.
n. 1 a a light springing rhythm or gait. b a song or tune marked by this. 2 (of the voice) a characteristic cadence or inflection; a pleasant accent.
v.intr. (esp. as lilting adj.) move or speak etc. with a lilt (a lilting step; a lilting melody).
[ ME lilte, llte, of unkn. orig. ]