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bagatelle

Pronunciation: /ˌbagəˈtɛl/

Definition of bagatelle

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a game in which small balls are hit and then allowed to roll down a sloping board on which there are holes, each numbered with the score achieved if a ball goes into it, with pins acting as obstructions.
  • 2a thing regarded as too unimportant or easy to be worth much consideration:dealing with these boats was a mere bagatelle for the world’s oldest yacht club
  • 3a short, light piece of music, especially one for the piano.

Origin:

mid 17th century (in bagatelle (sense 2)): from French, from Italian bagatella, perhaps from baga 'baggage' or from a diminutive of Latin baca 'berry'. bagatelle (sense 1) dates from the early 19th century

bagatelle in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bagatelle in the US English dictionary