English
rubato
Rubato comes from Italian rubato ‘robbed, stolen’.
- Italianc. 1300–presentrubato‘robbed, stolen’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007rubato
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Italianc. 1300–presentrubato‘robbed, stolen’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007rubato
Earliest quotation: 2007, Michele Weir, Jazz Piano Handbook: “The etudes with metronome markings should be played in…”
Every English word from Italian rubato
Today it means
noun A tempo in which strict timing is relaxed, the music being played near, but not on, the beat.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Italian rubato / rubato