- a secular part song without instrumental accompaniment, usually for four to six voices, making abundant use of contrapuntal imitation, popular especially in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- a lyric poem suitable for being set to music, usually short and often of amatory character, especially fashionable in the 16th century and later, in Italy, France, England, etc.
- any part song.
- a type of 16th- or 17th-century part song for unaccompanied voices with an amatory or pastoral text
- a 14th-century Italian song, related to a pastoral stanzaic verse form
