drumhead

American  

[druhm-hed] / ˈdrʌmˌhɛd /

noun

1. the membrane stretched upon a drum.

2. the top part of a capstan.

---

adjective

1. characteristic of a drumhead court-martial; carried out in summary fashion.

   a drumhead execution.

drumhead British  

/ ˈdrʌmˌhɛd /

noun

1. music the part of a drum that is actually struck with a stick or the hand

2. the head of a capstan, pierced with holes for the capstan bars

3. another name for eardrum

---

Etymology

Origin of drumhead

First recorded in 1615–25; drum ¹ + head

Example Sentences

This led to playing softer, with more precision instead of busting the drumhead.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 10, 2021

Other items available Friday included a Ludwig bass drumhead featuring the Beatles logo that was used in a concert near San Francisco in 1964.

From Fox News • Apr. 11, 2020

A vintage bass drumhead with The Beatles’ logo that was used during the English band’s first North American tour in 1964 was another top item in the auction, selling for $200,000.

From The Guardian • Apr. 10, 2020

See the Jimi Hendrix-adorned drumhead from Experience Unlimited, one the most commercially successful go-go acts to hail from the District, and learn about the music’s distinct, rhythmic “pocket” in a nook devoted to the genre.

From Washington Post • Sep. 21, 2016

It went rolling along the aisles between music stands, its springs ratding against the drumhead.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan