tympany

noun

tym·​pa·​ny ˈtim-pə-nē How to pronounce tympany (audio)
plural tympanies

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin tympanias, from Greek, from tympanon

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tympany was in 1528

Dictionary Entries Near tympany

Cite this Entry

“Tympany.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tympany. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

tympany

noun
tym·​pa·​ny -nē How to pronounce tympany (audio)
plural tympanies
1
2
: a resonant sound heard in percussion (as of the abdomen)

More from Merriam-Webster on tympany

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!