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rataplan

American  
[rat-uh-plan] / ˌræt əˈplæn /

noun

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


verb (used without object)

rataplanned, rataplanning
  1. to produce such a sound.

rataplan British  
/ ˌrætəˈplæn /

noun

  1. 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:

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

From Time Magazine Archive

With the announcement, Peking's vast Square of Heavenly Peace resounded to the beating of gongs, the clash of cymbals, the rataplan of exploding firecrackers.

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

Drums were bought by subscription, and in the armoury down under the School tattoo and rataplan voiced the martial spirit of St. James'.

From Sinister Street, vol. 1 by Compton MacKenzie

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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