Main Entry:

¹tam·bour

Pronunciation:

\ˈtam-ˌbu̇r, tam-ˈ\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle French, drum, from Arabic ṭanbūr, modification of Persian tabīr

Date:

15th century

1: ¹drum 12 a: an embroidery frame ; especially : a set of two interlocking hoops between which cloth is stretched before stitching b: embroidery made on a tambour frame3: a shallow metallic cup or drum with a thin elastic membrane supporting a writing lever used to transmit and register slight motions (as arterial pulsations)4: a rolling top or front (as of a rolltop desk) of narrow strips of wood glued on canvas