machicotage

noun ma·chi·co·tage \ ¦mashə̇kō¦täzh \

Definition of machicotage

plural -s

: the embellishment of the solo part of plain song by the insertion of ornaments between the authentic tones

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Origin and Etymology of machicotage

French, from machicoter to embellish plain song (from machicot, a former choir official in the chapter of Notre Dame in Paris, France) + French -age