Definition of kettledrum
:a percussion instrument that consists of a hollow brass, copper, or fiberglass hemisphere with a calfskin or plastic head whose tension can be changed to vary the pitch
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Recent Examples of kettledrum from the Web
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The women hammered kettledrums and struck a gong suspended from a pagoda.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kettledrum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of kettledrum
First Known Use of kettledrum
1602
KETTLEDRUM Defined for English Language Learners
kettledrum
play
noun
Definition of kettledrum for English Language Learners
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: a large drum that has a rounded bottom
KETTLEDRUM Defined for Kids
kettledrum
play
noun
ket·tle·drum
\
ˈke-tᵊl-ˌdrəm
\
Definition of kettledrum for Students
:a large brass or copper drum that has a rounded bottom and can be varied in pitch
Learn More about kettledrum
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See words that rhyme with kettledrum Spanish Central: Translation of kettledrum Nglish: Translation of kettledrum for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of kettledrum for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kettledrum
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