a verse form consisting of a series of quatrains in which the second and fourth lines of each verse are repeated as the first and third lines of the next
Word origin
C19: via French from Malay pantun
pantoum in American English
(pænˈtuːm)
noun
a Malay verse form consisting of an indefinite number of quatrains with the second and fourth lines of each quatrain repeated as the firstand third lines of the following one
Also: pantun
Word origin
[1880–85; ‹ F, erroneous sp. for pantoun ‹ Malay pantun]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, barnstorm, highball, impressionism, irredentist
Examples of 'pantoum' in a sentence
pantoum
At first reading, its repeated lines suggest some variation on a pantoum or villanelle.