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tym·pa·ni

(tĭmpə-nē)

pl.n.

Variant of timpani.

tim·pa·ni also tym·pa·ni

(tĭmpə-nē)

pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

A set of tunable kettledrums typically used in the percussion section of a symphony orchestra.

[Italian, pl. of timpano, kettledrum, from Latin tympanum, drum; see TYMPANUM.]

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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