lilt
- rhythmic swing or cadence.
- a lilting song or tune.
- to sing or play in a light, tripping, or rhythmic manner.
Origin of lilt
Related Words for lilted
warble, trill, sound, lilt, tweet, quaver, roll, pipe, call, sing, twitter, chip, tweedle, chirrup, purl, chipperExamples from the Web for lilted
Historical Examples of lilted
She put a damper on the sudden enthusiasm that lilted into his voice.
The Fighting EdgeWilliam MacLeod Raine
He lilted a swaying air, and whirled her round the room with gipsy glee.
The Nest BuilderBeatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale
He sat up with alert ears, and lilted suspiciously to a distance.
Lives of the Fur FolkM. D. Haviland
Madelon saw him as she lilted, and it seemed to her that she heard what he said.
MadelonMary E. Wilkins Freeman
She thought that Burr was there, and she lilted more loudly the Virginia reel.
MadelonMary E. Wilkins Freeman
lilt
- (in music) a jaunty rhythm
- a buoyant motion
- (of a melody) to have a lilt
- to move in a buoyant manner
Word Origin for lilt
Word Origin and History for lilted
lilt
1510s, "to lift up" (the voice), probably from late 14c. West Midlands dialect lulten "to sound an alarm," of unknown origin. Possible relatives include Norwegian lilla "to sing" and Low German lul "pipe." It is possible that the whole loose group is imitative. Sense of "sing in a light manner" is first recorded 1786. Related: Lilted; lilting. As a noun, 1728, "lilting song," from the verb. As "rhythmical cadence," 1840.