Riff
/rɪf/noun
A short, repeated musical phrase, especially one used as a prominent part of a song or instrumental piece.
Did you know?The musical sense of “riff” emerged in early 20th-century jazz slang, where it described a repeated melodic figure used for improvisation and musical interplay.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhreg-
“To break or fracture; a proposed ancestral root behind the later Latin family.”
Classical Latin
Latin
refringere
“To break back, bend back, or interrupt.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
refrangere
“To break or bend back; the source of forms related to “refrain.””
Old French
Old French
refraindre
“To restrain or hold back; also associated with a repeated section of a song.”
19th Century
English
refrain
“A recurring line, phrase, or musical passage.”
Early 20th Century
American English
riff
“Jazz slang for a short repeated musical phrase, probably a clipped or altered form related to “refrain.””
Modern English
English
riff
“A repeated musical phrase; later also an improvised variation or humorous elaboration on a subject.”