rondel

[ ron-dl, ron-del ]

noun

1. Prosody. a short poem of fixed form, consisting usually of 14 lines on two rhymes, of which four are made up of the initial couplet repeated in the middle and at the end, with the second line of the couplet sometimes being omitted at the end.
2. Theater. roundel ( def 4 ).

rondel

/ ˈrɒndəl /

noun

1. a rondeau consisting of three stanzas of 13 or 14 lines with a two-line refrain appearing twice or three times
2. a figure in Scottish country dancing by means of which couples change position in the set

Word History and Origins

Origin of rondel¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French rondel, diminutive of rond round ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rondel¹

C14: from Old French, literally: a little circle, from rond round

Example Sentences

Rondel made a movement as if to snatch the weapon from her, but she sprang back and pointed it at his head.

From Project Gutenberg

If Frédet was too long away from Court, a rondel went to upbraid him; and it was in a rondel that Frédet would excuse himself.

From Project Gutenberg

But in the rondel he has put himself before all competitors by a happy knack and a prevailing distinction of manner.

From Project Gutenberg

The belt over the hips of the cotehardie holds the purse, and often a ballade or a rondel.

From Project Gutenberg

The Rondel is merely the old form of the word rondeau; like oisel for oiseau, chastel for chateau so rondel has become rondeau.

From Project Gutenberg