ˌpäsəˈkälyə, ˌpas- noun
also pas·sa·ca·glio -l(ˌ)yō
( -s )
Etymology: modification (influenced by Italian passagaglia, passagallo, from Spanish pasacalle, a lively guitar tune) of French passacaille, from Spanish pasacalle, from pasar to pass + calle street, from Latin callis path — more at pase
1.
a. : an old Italian or Spanish dance tune
b. : an instrumental musical composition consisting of variations usually on a ground bass in moderately slow triple time — compare chaconne
2. : an old dance performed to a passacaglia