A metrical foot consisting of an accented syllable followed by two unaccented syllables; the words “poetry” and “basketball” are both dactylic. Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is written in dactylic meter. (See also double dactyl.)
Glossary of Poetic Terms
Looking to Learn More About Poetry?
Check out our Education area, where we have separate offerings for children, teens, adults, and educators.