[f. LILT v. + -ING2.] Cheerfully singing; (of song, meter, etc.) characterized by a rhythmical ‘swing’ or cadence.
1800. S. T. Coleridge, Death Wallenst., Transl. Pref. This is written … in the same lilting metre (if that expression may be permitted) with the second Eclogue of Spencer’s Shepherd’s Calendar.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), VI. liv. 409. He was a proficient in the lilting metre … of his tutor.
1865. Daily Tel., 8 Nov., 4/5. The lilting burden of ‘Lero, lero, lillibullero, lero, lero, bullen-a-la,’ helped to chase the STUARTS out of Ireland.
1900. J. G. Frazer, Pausanias, etc. 380. The flute broke into a light lilting air.
Hence Liltingness.
1884. J. Burroughs, Birds & Poets, 121. The bobolink … has … on the high grass lands … quite a different strain … running off with more sparkle and liltingness.
