rhyme royal

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rhyme royal

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This term was reportedly first used in the mid-1800s.

noun rhymes royal · rime royal

uncountable A form of English verse consisting of seven-line stanzas of iambic pentameter having a rhyme scheme of ababbcc, first represented in English in works by Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343-1400). Perhaps the most engaging of the Rowley poems are "An Excelente Balade of Charitie," written in the rhyme royal; and "The Bristowe Tragedie," in the common ballad stanza.
Similar: ballade royal, rhythm royal
countable A single stanza of this form. Chaucer for years before the Prologue to LGW had been writing heroic couplets at the close of each of his rhymes royal.

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MLA

"rhyme royal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/rhyme%20royal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

rhyme royal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/rhyme%20royal

Chicago

"rhyme royal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/rhyme%20royal.

BibTeX

@misc{rhyme_royal_2026,
  title = {rhyme royal},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/rhyme%20royal},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}