Talking Drum
/ˈtɔː.kɪŋ drʌm/noun
A tension drum whose pitch can be altered by squeezing its cords, traditionally used to imitate speech and transmit messages.
Did you know?Some West African talking drums can imitate the tonal patterns of spoken languages closely enough to reproduce names, proverbs, and messages.
Etymological Timeline
15th–16th Century
English
talking drum
“An English descriptive phrase for a drum perceived as communicating through speech-like rhythms.”
Medieval English
English
talken
“To speak, converse, or communicate; the source of modern “talk.””
Old English
Old English
drum
“A drum or percussion instrument; borrowed into English through earlier Germanic and Romance forms.”
14th Century
Old French
drum
“A percussion instrument, probably connected with Germanic and imitative forms for a drum’s sound.”
15th Century
English
tabor
“A small drum, borrowed from Old French and ultimately related to Arabic ṭabl, “drum.””
Modern English
English
talking drum
“A West African hourglass-shaped tension drum used for music, signaling, and speech-like communication.”
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