Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - madrigal

 noun  Etymology: Italian ~e, probably from Medieval Latin matricale, from neuter of *matricalis simple, from Late Latin, of the womb, from Latin matric-, matrix womb, from mater mother  Date: 1588  1. a medieval short lyrical poem in a strict poetic form  2.  a. a complex polyphonic unaccompanied vocal piece on a secular text developed especially in the 16th and 17th centuries  b. part-song; especially glee  • ~ian adjective  • ~ist noun