virelay

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: vir=e=lay

CIDE DICTIONARY

virelay, n. [F. virelai; virer to turn + lai a song, a lay.].

 An ancient French song, or short poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed in short lines, with a refrain.  [1913 Webster]
" “The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and, after employing one for some time, the poet was virer, or to turn, to the other.”"  Nares.  [1913 Webster]
"Of such matter made he many lays,
Songs, complains, roundels, virelayes."  [1913 Webster]
"To which a lady sung a virelay."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

virelay, n. a short (esp. old French) lyric poem with two rhymes to a stanza variously arranged.

Etymology

ME f. OF virelai