tam-tam

American  

[tuhm-tuhm, tam-tam] / ˈtʌmˌtʌm, ˈtæmˌtæm /

noun

1. a gong with indefinite pitch.

2. tom-tom.

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tam-tam British  

noun

1. another name for gong

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Etymology

Origin of tam-tam

First recorded in 1775–85; variant of tom-tom

Example Sentences

And a forest of percussion instruments, including shimmering tam-tam; curt wood blocks; and drums, both crisp and booming.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2023

The percussion section is very large, which for this performance was divided between the back of the orchestra and up front, with tam-tam and bass drum within touching distance of Wang.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2017

It’s as if they said, ‘Doudou, don’t go to school, you must come and play the tam-tam.’

From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2015

Rose was known to have introduced traditional Senegalese music, notably music using the tam-tam, to the world.

From Washington Times • Aug. 19, 2015

Come fleetly, come fleetly, my hookabadar, For the sound of the tam-tam is heard from afar.

From The Book of Humorous Verse by Wells, Carolyn