spiccato explained
A bowing technique in which the bow bounces lightly off the string, producing short, clear notes with a ringing quality
In Depth
Spiccato is performed in the middle of the bow, where the natural balance point allows controlled bouncing. The player uses a combination of arm weight and wrist flexibility to let the bow spring off the string after each note. Unlike staccato (where the bow stays on the string), spiccato produces a lighter, more airy detachment. The speed of spiccato is limited by the bow's natural bounce rate; at very high speeds, the technique transitions into sautillé, where the bow bounces of its own accord.
The difference between spiccato and sautillé is a matter of tempo — below a certain speed the player controls the bounce; above it, physics takes over and the bow bounces on its own.