I understand that the reason that Glee Clubs are called Glee Clubs is because they originally sang Glees. According to the dictionary, a glee is "A part song scored for three or more usually male and unaccompanied voices that was popular in the 18th century", but that definition doesn't tell me anything about what distinguishes a glee from other types of part songs. Can anyone explain what makes a glee a glee, and can you give an example?

While I'm at it, what about other terms for kinds of part songs? The dictionary says a catch is "A canonic, often rhythmically intricate composition for three or more voices, popular especially in the 17th and 18th centuries." What makes a catch a catch? Is the round "Come Hither Tom And Make Up Three" actually a catch?

Jacob