tin-pan

[ tin-pan ]

adjective

1. harsh, tinny, or clanging; noisy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tin-pan¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

In a world of expensive high-tech gear and fancy smartphone apps and maps and step counters, Evans earned his old-school outdoor skills as a Boy Scout, hiking the backcountry in the days of wool clothing and tin-pan cooking over an open fire.

From Seattle Times

Once she had the tin-pan band on, Mrs. Billups went over the alphabet.

From Literature

Meanwhile, the mainly Jewish composers and lyricists such George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and Oscar Hammerstein were busy inventing the Great American Musical, borrowing freely from black music as well as tin-pan alley and grand opera.

From The Guardian

Brave costumes, light, color and a mellow orchestra, in place of the old tin-pan of a piano, work great changes in their spirits.

From Project Gutenberg

Here comes the band with a tin-pan drum; Here come the cymbals, clangety-clang!

From Project Gutenberg