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rataplan

[rat-uh-plan]
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noun
  1. a sound of or as of the beating of a drum.
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verb (used without object), rat·a·planned, rat·a·plan·ning.
  1. to produce such a sound.
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Origin of rataplan

1840–50; < French; imitative
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for rataplan

Historical Examples

  • Not the best suited for little Mabsy; but she'll catch at the Rataplan.

    One of Our Conquerors, Complete

    George Meredith

  • Then she laughed, and drummed the rataplan again with her brass heel.

    Under Two Flags

    Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

  • I had a moment of triumph also when we sang the Rataplan, rataplan.

  • They turned in at the Rataplan and drew up at the carriage entrance.

  • Oh, they were getting on very well indeed when the Rataplan was reached.

British Dictionary definitions for rataplan

rataplan

noun
  1. a drumming sound
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Word Origin

from French, of imitative origin
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