kettledrum

[ket-l-druhm]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR kettledrum ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a drum consisting of a hollow hemisphere of brass, copper, or fiberglass over which is stretched a skin, the tension of which can be modified by hand screws or foot pedals to vary the pitch.

RELATED WORDS

pan, timpani

Nearby words

Compare timpani.

Origin of kettledrum

First recorded in 1595–1605; kettle + drum¹

Related formsket·tle·drum·mer, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for kettledrum

Dicky Wyatt writes, in answer to Helvellyn, that the word "Kettledrum" means a large social party.
Little Folks|Various
The origin of the kettledrum is remote and must be sought in the East.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 7|Various
Confound you, Corklemore, said Kettledrum to him aside, can you never hold your tongue?
Cradock Nowell, Vol. 2 (of 3)|Richard Doddridge Blackmore
Amy might as well have sung a song to a kettledrum, as talk to her.
The Fortunate Mistress (Parts 1 and 2)|Daniel Defoe

Then they marched back in twos, shoulder to shoulder, in fine style, to the rub-a-dub-dub of a kettledrum.
The Soul of John Brown|Stephen Graham

British Dictionary definitions for kettledrum

kettledrum

noun

a percussion instrument of definite pitch, consisting of a hollow bowl-like hemisphere covered with a skin or membrane, supported on a tripod or stand. The pitch may be adjusted by means of screws or pedals, which alter the tension of the skin

Derived Formskettledrummer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for kettledrum

kettledrum

1540s, from kettle + drum (n.).

Culture definitions for kettledrum

kettledrum

A drum consisting of a skin stretched over a large shell in the shape of a half-sphere. The pitch of the kettledrum can be changed by manipulating screws at the edge of the skin or pedals at the bottom of the drum. Kettledrums are usually used in classical music in sets of two or more and are known by their Italian name, timpani.