mordent

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmɔːd(ə)nt/

noun

Music
  • a rapid alternation of a note with the note immediately below or above it in the scale (sometimes further distinguished as lower mordent and upper mordent). The term inverted mordent usually refers to the upper mordent.

Origin:

early 19th century: via German from Italian mordente, present participle of mordere 'to bite'