The rondelet is a brief French form of poetry. It contains a single septet, refrain, a strict rhyme scheme and a distinct meter pattern.^[1]

Rondelet is the diminutive of rondel, a similar, longer verse form. This is the basic structure:

• Line 1: A—four syllables
• Line 2: b—eight syllables
• Line 3: A—repeat of line one
• Line 4: a—eight syllables
• Line 5: b—eight syllables
• Line 6: b—eight syllables
• Line 7: A—repeat of line one

The refrained lines should contain the same words, however substitution or different use of punctuation on the lines has been common.

Etymology

The term "roundelay" originates from 1570, from Modern French rondelet, a diminutive of rondel meaning "short poem with a refrain," literally "small circle". From Old French rondel, a diminutive of rond meaning "circle, sphere," originally an adjective from roont. The spelling developed by association with lay (noun) "poem to be sung."^[2]

A Roundelay can be any simple lyric with a refrain, but in prosody, a roundelay is a 24-line poem with a refrain and regularly repeating rhyme structure. ^[3]