Basīṭ (Arabic: بسيط‎), or al-basīṭ (البسيط), is a compound meter used in classical Arabic poetry. The word literally means "extender" in Arabic. The metrical form is as follows (the letter L representing a long syllable and S representing a short syllable):

L L S L | L S L | L L S L | L S L |

L L S L | L S L | L L S L | L S L |

It is often used alongside another meter called ṭawīl (طويل).

The term is also used in a musical context; in the Andalusi nubah, or classical suites, of Morocco, each nubah, or suite, is divided into five main movements (called mīzān (ميزان; plural: mawāzīn, موازين)) each of which uses a different rhythm, as follows:

1. Basīṭ (6/4)
2. Qāim wa nusf (8/4)
3. Btāyhī (8/4)
4. Darj (4/4)
5. Quddām (3/4 or 6/8)[1]

[edit] External links

• Arabic poetry page