pas·sa·mez·zo noun orpas·se·mez·zo\ˌpäsəˈmet(ˌ)sō, -ed(ˌ)zō, -e(ˌ)zō\ (-s) Etymology: Italian passamezzo, passo e mezzo, from the phrase passo e mezzo step and a half : an old originally Italian dance in duple time resembling the pavan but about twice as fast; also: the music of this dance