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cym·bal

(sĭmbəl)

A percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass plate that makes a loud clashing tone when hit with a drumstick or when used in pairs.

[Middle English, from Old English and from Old French cymbale, both from Latin cymbalum, from Greek kumbalon, from kumbē, bowl.]

cym′bal·eer (sĭm′bə-lîr), cymbal·er, cymbal·ist n.

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cymbal

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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