tympan

American  

[tim-puhn] / ˈtɪm pən /

noun

1. Printing. a padlike device interposed between the platen or its equivalent and the sheet to be printed, in order to soften and equalize the pressure.

2. tympanum.

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tympan British  

/ ˈtɪmpən /

noun

1. a membrane stretched over a frame or resonating cylinder, bowl, etc

2. printing packing interposed on a hand-operated text between the platen and the paper to be printed in order to provide an even impression

3. architect another name for tympanum

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Etymology

Origin of tympan

before 900; Middle English: drum, Old English < Latin tympanum tympanum

Example Sentences

The tympan of the duplicating machine is sometimes made uneven so that the impression of a typewriter is still further carried out.

From Business Correspondence by Anonymous

The ornament is nearly confined to the tympan over the portal, the capitals of columns, and to the choir with its seven absidal chapels.

From Wanderings by southern waters, eastern Aquitaine by Barker, Edward Harrison

A piece of rubber, felt, or woolen cloth, used in the tympan to make it soft and elastic.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

Over the cylinder is supported a diaphragm or tympan T, provided with a conical mouthpiece M for speaking into.

From The Story of Electricity by Munro, John

This façade is of the fifteenth century and on the tympan of the dormer windows one may still see the monogram of its builder, Cottereau.

From Royal Palaces and Parks of France by McManus, Blanche