tom-tom

views updated Jun 08 2018

tom-tom • n. a medium-sized cylindrical drum beaten with the hands and used in jazz bands, etc. ∎  an early drum, of Native American or Asian origin, typically played with the hands.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

tom-tom

views updated Jun 11 2018

tom-tom. Type of drum, imitative of African small hand-played drums, used in Western dance-bands from 1920s and sometimes in orch. works. May or may not be tuned. Not the same as tam-tam.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE

tom-tom

views updated May 14 2018

tom-tom XVII. — Hind. tam tam.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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tom-tom

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