presto meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

presto

adv

UK /ˈpɹɛstəʊ/ · US /ˈpɹɛstoʊ/

Etymology From Italian presto (“quickly”).

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Very fast or quickly; a directive for the musician(s) to play in a very quick tempo.

intj

Etymology From Italian presto (“quickly”).

Used by magicians when performing a trick; ta-da; voilà.

So I put my hand into the hat and presto! Out comes a rabbit!
You know the old man's ivory leg, well I dreamed he kicked me with it ; and when I tried to kick back, upon my soul, my little man, I kicked my leg right off! And then, presto! Ahab seemed a pyramid, and I, like a blazing fool, kept kicking at it.1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 31, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 142:

1 more example

Then comes the chance to become a governess, first in St. John’s Wood, then, in a Sussex country house. And presto! Bronwen is transformed into “a wild tornado” hotly pursued by two Messrs. Right.1975 November 16, “Moment of Truth”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

noun

Etymology From Italian presto (“quickly”).

Card games, Poker Slang A pair of fives as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em.