rataplan

noun

rat·a·plan ˈra-tə-ˌplan

: the iterative sound of beating

… a rolling rataplan of drums …—

Time

Word History

Etymology

French, of imitative origin

First Known Use

circa 1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rataplan was circa 1848

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Ratana Church

rataplan

rat-arsed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rataplan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rataplan. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 4 Nov 2025 - Definition revised

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

eccentric

Listen to the pronunciation of eccentric

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Putting Adjectives in the Right Order

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs