limma
noun
lim·ma
ˈlimə
plural limmata
-ətə
1
in ancient Greek music : a semitone in the Pythagorean scale that is less than half a whole step and is designated as the difference between a perfect fourth and two whole steps or 256/243
called also diesis
2
[Late Greek leimma, from Greek] : a pause in Greek verse equivalent to one mora —symbol Λ, λ, ⋀
Word History
Etymology
Late Latin, from Greek leimma Pythagorean semitone, remnant, from leipein to leave
First Known Use
1694, in the meaning defined at sense 1