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bagatelle
[ bag-uh-tel ]
/ ˌbæg əˈtɛl /
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noun
something of little value or importance; a trifle: "A mere bagatelle," she murmured in response to my admiration of her ring.
a game played on a board having holes at one end into which balls are to be struck with a cue.
a short and light musical composition, typically for the piano.
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Origin of bagatelle
First recorded in 1630–40; from French, from Italian bagat(t)ella, equivalent to bagatt(a) “small possession,” perhaps a derivative of bag(a) “berry” (from Latin bāca, bacca ) + -att(a), diminutive suffix + -ella, from Latin -illa diminutive suffix; cf. bay4
Words nearby bagatelle
bag, Baganda, bag and baggage, bagasse, bagassosis, bagatelle, Bagdad, B.Ag.E., Bagehot, bagel, bagful
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bagatelle in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bagatelle
bagatelle
/ (ˌbæɡəˈtɛl) /
noun
something of little value or significance; trifle
a board game in which balls are struck into holes, with pins as obstacles; pinball
another name for bar billiards
a short light piece of music, esp for piano
Word Origin for bagatelle
C17: from French, from Italian bagattella, from (dialect) bagatta a little possession, from baga a possession, probably from Latin bāca berry
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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