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Origin and history of tympan

tympan(n.)

Old English timpan "a drum," from Latin tympanum "a drum" (see tympanum). Also used of an ancient Irish musical instrument of uncertain type, and in modern use in reference to various mechanical appliances used in printing, etc.

Entries linking to tympan

tympanum(n.)

"drum of the ear," 1610s, from Medieval Latin tympanum (auris), introduced in this sense by Italian anatomist Gabriello Fallopio (1523-1562), from Latin tympanum "a hand-drum, timbrel, tambourine," from Greek tympanon "a kettledrum," from root of typtein "to beat, strike" (see type (n.)).

The modern meaning "a drum" is attested in English from 1670s. Compare tympan, Old English timpan "drum, timbrel, tambourine," from Latin tympanum.

tympanic(adj.)

1808 in anatomy and zoology, "of, pertaining to, or resembling as tympanum," from tympanum + -ic. Tympanical is by 1620s as pertaining to a tympan.

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