#captain frederick marryat

Adverb

[sot-oh -voh-chee;Italiansawt-taw -vaw-che ]

1. in a low, soft voice so as not to be overheard.

Origin:
First recorded in 1730–40; from Italian adverb sottovoce, “in a low voice,” from sotto “under” + voce “voice” (see origin at voice)

“Not the first time a man has obtained rank through his ‘baggage,’” observed one of the officers, sotto voce.“
- CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT, NEWTON FORSTER