Pronunciation: ˌ vi-l ə - ' ne-l ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -nel · le \ - ' ne-l ē \
Etymology: Italian, from villano villein, peasant, from Medieval Latin villanus
Date: 1596
1 : a 16th century Italian part-song in an intentionally unsophisticated style
2 : an instrumental piece in the style of a rustic dance