tympan Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
    membranophone; drum.

WordNet

Tym"pan noun
Etymology
F., fr. tympanum a kettledrum, a panel of a door. See Tympanum, and cf. Tymp.
Definitions
  1. A drum. Obs.
  2. (Arch.) A panel; a tympanum.
  3. (Print.) A frame covered with parchment or cloth, on which the blank sheets are put, in order to be laid on the form to be impressed. W. Savage.

Webster 1913