fa-la

[ fah-lah ]

noun

1. a text or refrain in old songs.
2. a type of part song or madrigal popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.

fa-la

/ fɑːˈlɑː /

noun

1. (esp in 16th-century songs) a refrain sung to the syllables fa-la-la

Word History and Origins

Origin of fa-la¹

First recorded in 1585–95; special use of fa la, meaningless sound sequence found in old popular refrains

Example Sentences

Fa-la, f�-l�, n. an old kind of madrigal.

From Project Gutenberg

With a fa-la, fa-la, fa-la-la!

From Project Gutenberg

Or would you prefer that I whistle into the opening of this door-key, to the effect that we must gather our rose-buds while we may, for Time is still a-flying, fa-la, and that a drear old age, not to mention our spouses, will soon descend upon us, fa-la-di-leero?

From Project Gutenberg

"With a fa-la—" And the chorus was roar'd forth, with shouts of laughter and clinking of glasses.

From Project Gutenberg

In the piece now under consideration, it is the second Bayt where the characteristic foot of the Wáfir first appears:—           U - - - | U - U U | U - - |           Naat 'anní'l-rubú'u wa sákiníhá           U - U U - | U - U U - | U - - |           Wa kad ba'uda 'l-mazáru fa-lá mazáru.

From Project Gutenberg