Pl. stornelli. [It.] A short popular Italian lyric, usually improvised.
1873. ‘Ouida,’ Pascarèl, I. iv. 57. Many and many a time … I have … repeated the stornelli to an enthusiastic circle of blacksmiths [etc.].
1885. Encycl. Brit., XIX. 272/2. Most of the Italian rispetti and stornelli seem to be improvisations.
