tom-tom
A small drum, often one of a joined pair, beaten with the hands, frequently associated…A small drum, often one of a joined pair, beaten with the hands, frequently associated with tribal cultures.
Meaning
2 sensesA small drum, often one of a joined pair, beaten with the hands, frequently associated with tribal cultures.
(usually)Any cylindrical drum, with no snare; part of a drum kit.
- any of various drums with small heads
Origin
From Hindi टमटम (ṭamṭam, “the sound of a drum”), and similar terms in related or nearby laFrom Hindi टमटम (ṭamṭam, “the sound of a drum”), and similar terms in related or nearby languages (as Punjabi ਟਮ ਟਮ (ṭam ṭam), Gujarati ટમટમ (ṭamṭam), Bengali টমটম (ṭomṭom), Sinhalese ටම් ටම් (ṭam ṭam), Tamil தம் தம் (tam tam), Malayalam തം തം (taṁ taṁ), Tibetan ཐོམ ཐོམ (thom thom)); ultimately of onomatopoeic origin, with reduplication. Early evidence is from Anglo-Indian sources.
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Forms
plural: tom-tomsSynonyms
1 synonyms- any of various drums with small heads:tenor drum