tam-tam

[ tuhm-tuhm, tam-tam ]

/ ˈtʌmˌtʌm, ˈtæmˌtæm /

a gong with indefinite pitch.

tom-tom.

Origin of tam-tam

First recorded in 1775–85; variant of tom-tom

talus, talweg, talys, tam, tam-o'-shanter, tam-tam, tamable, tamagotchi, tamale, taman, tamandua

Priests attend upon the goddess, and female dancers display their talent before her, accompanied by the loud music of the tam-tam.

A Woman's Journey Round the World |Ida Pfeiffer
He re-read the score, set it going on the organ, then picked up the tam-tam.

Melomaniacs |James Huneker
Again the page was played, the tam-tam's thin edge set shivering with mournful resonance.

Melomaniacs |James Huneker
With a scorching whiff of sulphur and violets, a thin, spiral scream, the music tapered into the sepulchral clang of a tam-tam.

Melomaniacs |James Huneker

Come fleetly, come fleetly, my hookabadar, For the sound of the tam-tam is heard from afar.

The Book of Humorous Verse |Various

tam-tam

another name for gong (def. 1)

from Hindi: see tom-tom