Ditty

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdɪti/

Definitions

1. A light, catchy tune that is often brief and cheerful is typically characterized by its playful nature and simplicity in composition
2. This term describes a concise, enjoyable musical piece that often features a whimsical or light-hearted lyrical theme
3. A brief and straightforward song that is easy to remember and usually cheerful

Etymology: The word "ditty" started out as a poem rather than a song. Middle English "dite" and "ditee" meant a composition, often a verse piece written to be set to music, and they came from Old French "ditie" or "dité". Those French forms grew from the verb "ditier", meaning to compose or write, which in turn descends from Latin "dictāre", to dictate or recite aloud. So a ditty was, at root, something dictated or composed. The sense of a short, cheerful tune arrived only later, as the composition was increasingly thought of through its singing. The tiny, simple quality that now defines it was not in the original Latin verb at all; it developed as the word narrowed from any verse to a light, easily remembered air.

Synonyms: song, tune, melody, chant, lilt