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rataplan

American

[rat-uh-plan] / ˌræt əˈplæn /

noun

a sound of or as of the beating of a drum.

verb (used without object)

rataplanned, rataplanning

to produce such a sound.

rataplan British

/ ˌrætəˈplæn /

noun

a drumming sound

"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

Etymology

Origin of rataplan

1840–50; < French; imitative

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

rataplan rataplanned

They responded to the starter with a rataplan of cylinder explosions that soon mellowed into a roar.

From Time Magazine Archive

With a rataplan and a paradiddle, U.S. radio last week opened its 1947-48 season.

From Time Magazine Archive

When the Nazi submariners emerged from the U-boat, they were greeted with a rataplan of small-caliber fire from encircling destroyers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, with no rataplan of drums, The Admiral and The Biscuit met at Pimlico.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Under Two Flags by Ouida

A band rataplanned a Sousa march, and the P.W.s, loaded into trucks, were driven off towards Seoul.

From Time Magazine Archive

During his military career he solemnly rataplanned the drums at Versailles as Woodrow Wilson marched by with Clemenceau.

From Time Magazine Archive

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023