quaver etymology

Etymology

The word "quaver" derives from the Middle English word "quave," which is itself derived from the Old French word "cvaver," meaning "to shake." The ultimate etymology is thought to be the Latin verb "quatio," meaning "to shake."

Meaning

A quaver is:

• A musical note that is half the duration of a crotchet (also known as a quarter note or a quarter rest).
• A semiquaver (also known as a sixteenth note or a sixteenth rest).
• A tremolo effect in which a note is rapidly alternated with itself.

Origin

The use of quavers in musical notation dates back to the 13th century, when they were used to represent short notes in polyphonic music. The development of the tremolo effect occurred later, in the 17th century.

quaver relate terms

• demisemiquaver

  Etymology From French demie half semiquaver a musical note having the time valu

• semi

  Etymology The word semi originates from the Latin word semi which means half or

• quaver

  Etymology The word quaver derives from the Middle English word quave which is itself

• hemidemisemiquaver

  Etymology Hemi Greek half Demi French half Semi Latin half Quaver Old Engli

• hemi

  Etymology The word hemi is derived from the Greek word hēmi meaning half or pa

• semi

  Etymology The word semi originates from the Latin word semi which means half or

• quaver

  Etymology The word quaver derives from the Middle English word quave which is itself

• quake

  Etymology and Origin of Quake The word quake has its roots in the Old English word

• quiver

  Etymology Middle English quivre quiveer borrowed from Old French cuivre from Late L

• sound

  Etymology From Middle English sound from Old English sund from Proto Germanic sunðaz

• note

  Etymology Note comes from the Latin word nota meaning mark or sign Meaning A

• tone

  Etymology Origin Middle English toune from Old English tun meaning enclosed set

• warble

  Etymology Middle English warbelen from Old French werbler from Germanic warbilōn

• sign

  Etymology The word sign comes from the Latin word signum which means mark token o

• sing

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It examines the

• voice

  Etymology The word voice comes from the Middle English word vois which in turn comes