lilt
pronunciation
How to pronounce lilt in British English:
UK [lɪlt]
How to pronounce lilt in American English:
US [lɪlt]
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- Noun:
- a jaunty rhythm in music
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- Verb:
- articulate in a very careful and rhythmic way
Word Origin
- lilt (v.)
- 1510s, "to lift up" (the voice), probably from late 14c. West Midlands dialect lulten "to sound an alarm," of unknown origin. Possible relatives include Norwegian lilla "to sing" and Low German lul "pipe." It is possible that the whole loose group is imitative. Sense of "sing in a light manner" is first recorded 1786. Related: Lilted; lilting. As a noun, 1728, "lilting song," from the verb. As "rhythmical cadence," 1840.
Example
- 1. Her voice had a soft welsh lilt to it .
- 2. The woman was small and plump , with a lilt in her walk .
- 3. There was something familiar in the lilt of the voice .
- 4. He replied , in his languid , ever-courteous southern lilt , " the hell you say . "
- 5. She has a lilt to her voice .