barcaroles
|bar-ca-roles|
🇺🇸
/ˌbɑrkəˈroʊlz/
🇬🇧
/ˌbɑːkəˈrəʊlz/
(barcarole)
boat song
Etymology
'barcarole' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'barcarola', where 'barca' meant 'boat'.
'barcarole' changed from Italian 'barcarola' into French 'barcarolle' and eventually became the modern English word 'barcarole' (with plural 'barcaroles').
Initially, it meant 'boat song' (a song sung in a boat); over time it also came to mean a musical composition that imitates the rocking motion of a boat.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
songs sung by Venetian gondoliers; boat songs.
The tourists listened to the barcaroles as the gondola slipped under the bridge.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a musical composition that imitates the gentle, rocking rhythm of a boat (often in 6/8 or 12/8 time); a piece titled or styled as a barcarole.
The pianist included two barcaroles in the recital to evoke a Venetian atmosphere.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/15 01:46