timbrel

[ tim-bruh l ]

/ ˈtɪm brəl /

noun

a tambourine or similar instrument.

Nearby words

timberline, timberman, timberwork, timberyard, timbre, timbrel, timbuktu, time, time after time, time and a half, time and motion study

Origin of timbrel

1490–1500; earlier timbre drum (see timbre) + -el diminutive suffix

Related formstim·breled, tim·brelled, adjectivetim·brel·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for timbrel

Glιᵹbeam, ᵹlιpbeam (glig or glee-beam), tympanum; a timbrel or taber.
Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume I (of 3)|Thomas Percy
Tympanum is used for a timbrel or drum, tympanidia a diminutive of it.
Cicero's Tusculan Disputations|Marcus Tullius Cicero
When he drew near the house the chorus within were still practising “Strike the Timbrel.”
Madelon|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
Mrs. Snagsby sounds no timbrel in anybody's ears, but holds her purpose quietly, and keeps her counsel.
Bleak House|Charles Dickens

On the external frieze are represented in stucco the seven-branched candlestick, David's harp, and Miriam's timbrel.
Walks in Rome|Augustus J.C. Hare

British Dictionary definitions for timbrel

timbrel

/ (ˈtɪmbrəl) /

noun

mainly Bible another word for tambourine

Word Origin for timbrel

C16: from Old French; see timbre

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

Word Origin and History for timbrel

timbrel

"percussive Middle Eastern instrument," c.1500, diminutive of timbre (q.v.) in its older French sense of "drum." Used in Bible translations, chiefly to render Hebrew toph, cognate with Arabic duff "drum," of imitative origin.