drum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A musical instrument that you hit with sticks or your hands to make a beat.

   He plays the piano and she plays the drums.

2. 2
   noun

   A large round container, usually made of metal, for storing liquids.

   The restaurant orders cooking oil in big steel drums.

3. 3
   verb

   To make a steady, repeated beating sound.

   Rain drummed against the windshield all night.

Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag). Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”) et al. Compare also Middle High German trumme, trumbe (“drum”), Old High German trumba (“trumpet”).

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