Main Entry: per·cus·sion

Pronunciation: \pər-ˈkə-shən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French percussioun, from Latin percussion-, percussio, from percutere to beat, from per- thoroughly + quatere to shake

Date: 15th century

1 : the act of percussing: as a : the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm b : the beating or striking of a musical instrument c : the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resultant sound
2 : the striking of sound on the ear
3 : percussion instruments that form a section of a band or orchestra

— percussion adjective