tambourine

[ tam-buh-reen ]

noun

1. a small drum consisting of a circular frame with a skin stretched over it and several pairs of metal jingles attached to the frame, played by striking with the knuckles, shaking, and the like.

tambourine

/ ˌtæmbəˈriːn /

noun

1. music a percussion instrument consisting of a single drumhead of skin stretched over a circular wooden frame hung with pairs of metal discs that jingle when it is struck or shaken

Derived Forms

• ˌtambouˈrinist, noun

Other Words From

• tambou·rinist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tambourine¹

1570–80; earlier tamboryne < Middle Dutch tamborijn small drum < Middle French tambourin or Medieval Latin tamborīnum. See tambour, -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tambourine¹

C16: from Middle Flemish tamborijn a little drum, from Old French: tambourin