Pl. castrati. [Ital.; pa. pple. of castrare used substantively:—L. castrāre to castrate.] A male singer castrated in boyhood so as to retain a soprano or alto voice.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., v. 63. An Italian Castrato (who hath laboured at this Refinement through his whole Life).
1879. E. Gosse, Lit. N. Europe, 147. The Italian Opera … with its gang of castrati.
