"musical composition of one principal theme, which is repeated at least once," 1797, from Italian rondo, from French rondeau, rondel, from Old French rondel "little round" (see rondel).
Entries linking to rondo
rondel n.
late 14c., rondeal, a short poem in a fixed form consisting of thirteen or fourteen lines on two rhymes, with regular repetitions, from Old French rondel "short poem," literally "small circle" (13c.), diminutive of roont (fem. roonde) "circular" (see round (adj.)). So called because the initial couplet is repeated at the end.