pizzicato Music [ ˌpɪtsɪ'kα:təʊ ]
■ adverb & adjective plucking the strings of a violin or other stringed instrument with one's finger.
■ noun ( plural pizzicatos or pizzicati -ti ) this technique of playing.
↘a note or passage played in this way.
Origin
Ital., lit. 'pinched, twitched', past participle of pizzicare , based on pizza 'point, edge'.