sb. [Originally the first syllable of the L. famuli: see GAMUT.] The name given by Guido to the fourth note in his hexachords, and since retained in solmisation as the 4th note of the octave. Also occas. as sb.

1

c. 1325.  in Rel. Ant., I. 292.

        Yet there ben other notes,
sol and ut and la, And that froward file that men clepis fa.

2

1597.  T. Morley, Introd. Mus. (1771), 4. There be in Musicke but vj. Notes, which are called vt, re, mi, fa, sol, la.

3

1660.  Howell, Lexicon. Fa, one of the highest Notes in Musique.

4

1890.  W. H. Cummings, Rudim. Music., ¶ 202. In France it is customary to call the sounds by fixed syllables instead of letters, as follows:

        Do or Ut,  Re,  Mi,  Fa,  Sol,  La,  Si,  Do or Ut.
C.  D.  E.  F.  G.  A.  B.  C.

5

  Hence as vb. (see quot.)

6

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., IV. v. 120. I will carie no Crotchets: Ile Re you, Ile Fa you; do you note me?

7