pizzicato
UK[ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtəʊ]US[ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtoʊ]
adv
(of a note or passage played on a stringed instrument) by plucking the strings with the finger instead of using the bow.
adj
performed or to be performed pizzicato.
n
a note or passage played pizzicato.
Etymology
the word 'pizzicato' is a direct borrowing from italian, where it is the past participle of the verb 'pizzicare', meaning 'to pluck' or 'to pinch'. this verb itself is thought to be of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the short, sharp sound produced by plucking a string. entering english in the 19th century, it retained its precise italian musical instruction, specifying a technique distinct from bowing. its journey exemplifies how specialized vocabularies, particularly in the arts, often adopt foreign terms wholesale to convey specific techniques with clarity and tradition.
Analysis
this is an italian loanword adopted as a whole into english musical terminology. it is not productively segmented using english morphemes.
Examples
the cellist played the entire movement pizzicato, creating a delicate, percussive effect.
the score is marked with a sudden shift from arco to pizzicato.
that rapid series of pizzicatos in the violin part is technically demanding.