Tympany
/ˈtɪm.pə.ni/noun
An abnormal swelling or distension, especially of the abdomen from gas.
Did you know?Tympany comes from the same Greek root as *tympanon* (“drum”); the medical sense reflects a body so distended with gas that it sounds hollow when tapped, like a drum.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
τύμπανον (týmpanon)
“A drum or tambourine, something struck and resonant.”
Late Latin
Latin
tympanum
“A drum; also a rounded wheel or circular disk-like form.”
Old French
Old French
tympanie
“A swelling or distension; also related medical uses.”
Middle English
English
tympany
“Abnormal swelling, especially a bloated abdomen.”
Modern English
English
tympany
“Abnormal distension, especially from gas in the abdomen.”