Lilt is one of English's rare words that sounds exactly like what it means — its light, bouncing syllable perfectly mirrors the cheerful rhythmic quality it describes.
A cheerful, swinging rhythm or cadence in music or speech; a light, springy way of moving or speaking.
Of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English lulten (to sound, to sing loudly) or from a Scandinavian source. The word may be imitative (onomatopoetic), suggesting the light, bouncing quality of the movement or sound it describes. It has been associated particularly with Irish and Scottish English. Key roots: lilt (English (uncertain): "cheerful rhythmic sound or movement (possibly imitative)").
Lilt is one of those rare English words that seems to sound exactly like what it means — the light, bouncing quality of the word itself mirrors the light, bouncing quality it describes. While its exact origin is unknown, its strongest associations are with Celtic English — the "lilt" of Irish and Scottish speech refers to the distinctive rising-falling intonation pattern that gives those accents their musical quality. The word may be inherently onomatopoetic — coined to imitate the rhythmic, swinging sound