Masculine

smartlap

a simple sentimental popular song about a sad story, usually involving love, death, nostalgia or illness, of a genre originating around 1900

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsmɑrt.lɑp/

Borrowed from German

Schmachtlappen

In summary

Borrowed from German Schmachtlappen, but by folk etymology reanalysed as smart (“grief”) + lap (“rag, sheet”). The widespread supposition that the word originally referred to canvases (roldoeken) depicting sad scenes that were used by itinerant street singers or street musicians is incorrect.