hocket

[prettygoodword]

hocket - n., a technique in medieval musical composition in which two or three voice parts are given notes or short phrases in rapid alternation, producing an erratic, hiccuping effect.


So says the Random House Dictionary -- which seems to be the only dictionary known to OneLook that knows the word. It's a technique that deserves to be much better known.

---L.

Comments

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

† hocket. Obs. Also 4–5 hoket, 7 hocquet.
[a. F. hoquet, in OF. also hocquet shock, sudden interruption, hitch, hiccup: see Hatz.-Darm.]
1. Hitch, obstacle; interruption; chicane, trick.
[1276 see hockettor.]
13.. K. Alis. 7000 Mony hoket is in amours; Stedfast seldom ben lechoures.
˜1460Towneley Myst. xxx. 233 Here I be gesse of many nyce hoket, Of care and of curstnes, hethyng and hoket.
Ibid. 312 Hym thynke it no hoket his taylle when he Wryngys.
2. = hicket, hiccup.
1601 Holland Pliny xx. xvii, The troublesome yex or hocquet.
Ibid. II. 50 Against the Hocquet or Yex, there is a notable medicine made with it.
1617 Minsheu Ductor s.v. Hocke, It is good to helpe the Hocket or Hicket.
3. Mediæval Mus. An interruption of a voice-part (usually of two or more parts alternately) by rests, so as to produce a broken or spasmodic effect; used as a contrapuntal device.
[1326 Robt. de Handlo Regulæ xii. §5 Hoketus.]
1776 Hawkins Hist. Mus. liii. II. 195 De Handlo..says, that Hockets are formed by the combination of notes and pauses.
1875 Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms, Hocket, Hoket, Ochetus..was the same as truncatio (truncatio idem est quod hoket).
1880 Grove Dict. Mus., Hocket, a term which occurs in old English writers on music, beginning with De Handlo (1326), for passages which were truncated or mangled, or a combination of notes and pauses.
Hence
†'hockettor Obs., a tricker, a sharper.
[1276 Act 4 Edw. I, Stat. Rageman in Stat. Realm I. 44/2 Par hoketours ou barettours [v.r. par hokettez ne par baretz].]
1672–1727 Cowell's Interpr., Hockettor or Hocqueteur, is an old French word for a Knight of the Post, a decayed man, a Basket-carrier.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Ah! Thanks. I was hoping you'd have the OED handy.

---L.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

If I were a real stud, I'd have Grove.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Perhaps someone willing to indulge in kindness to strangers will pass through these Elysian Fields.

---L.

[paulakate.livejournal.com]

It's online but subscriptions for individuals are $295/year.