An aicill (pronounced “ack-ill”) is a traditional Irish verse form characterized by alternating lines of seven and six syllables with a specific rhyme scheme (often ABAB) and a closing couplet that echoes or reframes the poem’s central motif; derived from Gaelic bardic practice, the aicill often features intricate internal rhyme and alliteration, serving as a compact vehicle for lament, praise, or moral reflection, and its revival in modern poetry highlights cross-cultural engagement with indigenous prosodic systems and the musicality of syllabic constraint.

Aicill: An Irish verse form featuring alternating lines of 7 and 5 syllables with a final refrain; part of Gaelic bardic tradition; often used for laments or elegies.