pizzicato

This term originates from the Italian word for plucked, specifically referring to the technique of using the fingertips to snap a string. In a musical score, it is often indicated by the abbreviation "pizz." to signal a departure from the standard bowing technique (arco).

As a noun, the word can refer to the general technique or to specific plucked notes within a composition. While it is primarily a technical musical term, it carries a connotation of lightness, playfulness, or suddenness, often used by composers to create a percussive or rhythmic contrast against the sustained sounds of a bow.