Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Percussion
1.
The act of percussing, or striking one body against another; forcible collision, esp. such as gives a sound or report.
Sir I. Newton.
2.
Hence: The effect of violent collision; vibratory shock; impression of sound on the ear.
The thunderlike
percussion
of thy sounds. Shakespeare
3.
(Med.)
The act of tapping or striking the surface of the body in order to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the sound emitted or the sensation imparted to the fingers. Percussion is said to be immediate if the blow is directly upon the body; if some intervening substance, as a pleximeter, is, used, it is called mediate.
Center of percussion
. See under
– Center
. Percussion bullet
, a bullet containing a substance which is exploded by percussion; an explosive bullet.
– Percussion cap
, a small copper cap or cup, containing fulminating powder, and used with a percussion lock to explode gunpowder.
– Percussion fuze
. See under
– Fuze
. Percussion lock
, the lock of a gun that is fired by percussion upon fulminating powder.
– Percussion match
, a match which ignites by percussion.
– Percussion powder
, powder so composed as to ignite by slight percussion; fulminating powder.
– Percussion sieve
, Percussion table
a machine for sorting ores by agitation in running water.
Webster 1828 Edition
Percussion
PERCUS'SION
,Noun.
1.
The impression one body makes on another by falling on it or striking it.2.
The impression or effect of sound on the ear.