MADRIGAL

noun Etymology: Italian ~e, probably from Medieval Latin matricale, from neuter of *matricalis simple, from Late Latin, of the womb, from Latin matric-, matrix womb, from mater mother Date: 1588 a medieval short lyrical poem in a strict poetic form, 2. a complex polyphonic unaccompanied vocal piece on a secular text developed especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, part-song , ~ian adjective ~ist noun