n. & v.
n. 1 Mus. an independent treble melody usu. sung or played above a basic melody, esp. of a hymn tune. 2 poet. a melody; a song.
v.intr. 1 (foll. by on, upon) talk lengthily and prosily, esp. in praise of. 2 Mus. sing or play a descant. descant recorder the most common size of recorder, with a range of two octaves.
[ ME f. OF deschant f. med.L discantus (as DIS-, cantus song, CHANT) ]