in poetry, is applied to a kind of verses which rhyme at every hemistic, the middle always chiming to the end. Of which kind we find several ancient hymns, epigrams, prophecies, &c.—For instance, Muretus speaking of the poetry of Lorenzo Gambara of Bresse, says,

Brixia, vel/stratis merdosa volumina vatis, Non sunt nolitates tergere digna natis.

The following one is from the school of Salernum:

Ut vites penam de poibus incipe cenam.

The origin of the word is somewhat obscure; Papiquer derives it from one Leoninus or Leonius, who excelled in this way; and dedicated several pieces to Pope Alexander III.; others derive it from Pope Leo; and others from the beast called lion, by reason it is the loftiest of all verses.