Trochee
/ˈtroʊ.kiː/noun
A metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.
Did you know?Trochee comes from Greek τροχαῖος (trokhaios), literally “running” or “wheeling,” from τρόχος (trochos), “wheel,” so the meter’s name was born from motion, not magic.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
τροχαῖος (trokhaios)
“running, wheeling; a metrical foot”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τρόχος (trochos)
“wheel, running wheel, something that turns”
Late Latin
Latin
trochaeus
“a trochee, a metrical foot”
Middle English
English
trochee
“a metrical foot with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable”
Modern English
English
trochee
“a metrical foot of stressed-unstressed rhythm”
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