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

Example Sentences

Clocking in at just under two hours, the show began with album opener “Felt Good About You,” a folksy number whose jaunty tambourine gives it the feel of a tune from an indie film soundtrack.

From Los Angeles Times

She provides backing vocals, plays tambourine and guitar.

From Los Angeles Times

A man sits between a woman’s legs as she braids his hair into cornrows, while another guest taps a tambourine to the beat of the music.

From Los Angeles Times

This led to Liam hitting Noel with a tambourine and walking off the stage before the performance was over.

From Salon

As dusk fell, some activists put on goggles and helmets, carried makeshift shields, jangled tambourines and beat drums as they prepared for another standoff with law enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times