staccatissimo
An extreme form of staccato, indicating notes should be played as short and detached as possible.
In Depth
Staccatissimo is notated with a wedge-shaped mark above or below the note (as opposed to the dot used for regular staccato). The notes are reduced to the shortest possible duration, creating a sharp, pointed, pecking quality. This extreme detachment is used for special effects, percussive passages, and moments of high tension or agitation. Bartok and Prokofiev frequently employ staccatissimo in their rhythmically driven passages.
The distinction between staccato, staccatissimo, and spiccato is so subtle that even professional musicians sometimes disagree on the exact difference in practice.