[mad.ri.gal] n [It madrigale, prob. fr. ML matricale, fr. neut. of (assumed) matricalis simple, fr. LL, of the womb, fr. L matric-, matrix womb, fr. mater mother] (1588) 1: a medieval short lyrical poem in a strict poetic form
2. a: a complex polyphonic unaccompanied vocal piece on a secular text developed esp. in the 16th and 17th centuries b: part-song; esp: glee -- mad.ri.gal.ian adj -- mad.ri.gal.ist n