kettledrum

American  

[ket-l-druhm] / ˈkɛt lˌdrʌm /

noun

1. 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.

---

kettledrum British  

/ ˈkɛtəlˌdrʌm /

noun

1. 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

---

kettledrum Cultural  

1. 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.

---

Other Word Forms

• kettledrummer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of kettledrum

First recorded in 1595–1605; kettle + drum ¹

Explanation

A kettledrum is a very large drum typically consisting of a drum head stretched across a copper bowl. Most large orchestras include kettledrums in their percussion section. A typical set of kettledrums has four different sizes of drums, but some orchestras have eight or more. If you've ever noticed a sound like thunder in a classical piece of music, you're probably hearing the kettledrum. The word comes from the kettle-like shape of the drum's bowl, and kettledrums are also commonly called timpani.

Example Sentences

Kettledrum tones were like feeble rasps on a gourd.

From Time Magazine Archive

Dicky Wyatt writes, in answer to Helvellyn, that the word "Kettledrum" means a large social party.

From Little Folks A Magazine for the Young (Date of issue unknown) by Various

Mr. Long had arranged for us all to ride round the farm, and I was mounted on a lovely chestnut mare, sixteen hands high, daughter of Fanfaron, and niece to Kettledrum.

From A Voyage in the 'Sunbeam' Our Home on the Ocean for Eleven Months by Brassey, Annie

As the boys left her, Robert contented himself with the single hint: 'Betty, Bodyfauld 's i' the perris o' Kettledrum.

From Robert Falconer by MacDonald, George