Basso
/ˈbɑː.soʊ/noun
A low male singing voice or part, especially in choral and operatic music.
Did you know?The word comes through Italian from Latin *bassus*, and its musical power helped give English the separate term *bass* for the deepest vocal and instrumental register.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
bassus
“short, low, or stocky”
Old Italian
Italian
basso
“low; deep in pitch”
Renaissance Italian
Italian
basso
“the low vocal part in polyphonic music”
16th Century
English
basso
“an imported musical term for a low voice or part”
Modern English
English
basso
“a low male voice, especially in classical singing”