Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

double dactyl

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.78 in modern English

Syllables: dou-ble -dactyl
IPA

21

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A short, usually humorous poem with eight lines in dactylic meter; a higgledy-piggledy.

Example Sentences

"Higgledy-piggledies are more sophisticated than clerihews: they comprise double dactyls and rhymes and aren't always biographical."

Etymology

Coined by poets Anthony Hecht and Paul Pascal; compound of double + dactyl.

Inflected Forms

double dactyls (plural) double-dactyl (alternative)

Synonyms

higgledy-piggledy

Questions

What does double dactyl mean?: A short, usually humorous poem with eight lines in dactylic meter; a higgledy-piggledy.
Where does double dactyl come from?: Coined by poets Anthony Hecht and Paul Pascal; compound of double + dactyl.

How to pronounce double dactyl

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “double dactyl”.
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