demisemiquaver

9.9

A very short musical note lasting one thirty-second of a whole note

noun
/ˌdɛmɪˈsɛmɪˌkwɑːvər/

: semicorchea

In the complex piece, the demisemiquavers added a lively rhythm that energized the performance.

Examples

During the lesson, the teacher explained how to play demisemiquavers accurately in a musical scale.
There in a demisemiquaver.

Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
The musician played a rapid passage filled with demisemiquavers that showcased his skill.

Synonyms

thirty-second note

vsdemisemiquaver

Specialized

8.4

A very short sound in music that lasts one thirty-second of a whole note

has identical meaning but is an alternative traditional name

Surface Forms

demisemiquaver singular

demisemiquavers plural

Morphology

demisemiquaver = semiquaver (transparent) = demi + quaver

The word is formed by prefixing 'demi-' to 'semiquaver' meaning 'half of a semiquaver' (i.e., 1/32), a regular and recoverable formation for learners familiar with the musical terms.

Etymology

The word demisemiquaver is made of demi- and semi-, both meaning 'half', plus quaver, a name for a short note whose name is like the word 'quiver' meaning 'to shake'. So a demisemiquaver is literally a 'half of a half of a quaver', which is why it means a very short thirty-second musical note.