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pizzicato

[ pit-si-kah-toh; Italian peet-tsee-kah-taw ]

adjective

  1. played by plucking the strings with the finger instead of using the bow, as on a violin.


noun

, plural piz·zi·ca·ti [pit-si-, kah, -tee, peet-tsee-, kah, -tee].
  1. a note or passage so played.

pizzicato

/ ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtəʊ /

adjective

  1. (in music for the violin family) to be plucked with the finger


noun

  1. the style or technique of playing a normally bowed stringed instrument in this manner

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pizzicato1

1835–45; < Italian, past participle of pizzicare to pluck, pick, twang (a stringed instrument)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pizzicato1

C19: from Italian: pinched, from pizzicare to twist, twang

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Example Sentences

As additional methods facilitating in some cases the transfer of stops must be named the "double touch" and the "pizzicato touch."

When playing upon a soft combination on the Great, the organist may draw the Swell to Great "pizzicato" coupler.

And the third movement is got under way, till we reach a pizzicato passage which Sally begins playing with the bow by mistake.

At first only the string orchestra is heard, always pizzicato.

Difficult pizzicato passages and runs in thirds and tenths at top speed are but as child's play to him.

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