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Webster 1913 Edition


Kettledrum

Ket′tle-drumˊ

(-drŭmˊ)
,
Noun.
1.
(Mus.)
A drum made of thin copper in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with parchment stretched over the mouth of it.
Kettledrums
, in pairs, were formerly used in martial music for cavalry, but are now chiefly confined to orchestras, where they are called
tympani
.
2.
An informal social party at which a light collation is offered, held in the afternoon or early evening. Cf.
Drum
,
Noun.
, 4 and 5.

Definition 2024


kettledrum

kettledrum

See also: kettle-drum and kettle drum

English

a kettledrum

Alternative forms

Noun

kettledrum (plural kettledrums)

  1. (music) A large hemispherical brass percussion instrument (one of the timpani) with a drumhead that can be tuned by adjusting its tension.
  2. (dated) An informal social party at which a light collation is offered, held in the afternoon or early evening.

Synonyms

Translations