gleecraft

English

Etymology

From Middle English gleocræft, from Old English glēocræft, glīwcræft (“music, art of music, minstrelsy”), equivalent to glee +‎ -craft.

Noun

gleecraft (uncountable)

1. Music; the art of music.
   • 1898, William Marshall, Aarbert:

     Other things earthen, as they fade and crumble, Sing deathsongs in the minor key of gleecraft.

   • 1910, Poet lore, volume 21, page 251:

     This could be revived in the form gleecraft.

   • 1948, New Statesman: the week-end review:

     "It was the outshapen uptippening of a bad tide; but some folk are wont to forsend all deemstery of gleecraft as inwoning."

   • 1995, Staszek, Three-hand jax & other spells:

     Your heart sang with his gleecraft, words wondrously wrought, kennings keen with knowing.