cymbal

From Middle English cymbal, from Old English cimbal, cimbala and Old French cimbale, both from Latin cymbalum (“cymbal”), from Ancient Greek κύμβαλον (kúmbalon), from κύμβη (kúmbē, “bowl”). See also chime.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪmbəl/, [ˈsɪmbɫ̩]

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• Rhymes: -ɪmbəl
• Homophone: symbol

A cymbal on a stand.

cymbal (plural cymbals)

1. (music) A concave plate of brass or bronze that produces a sharp, ringing sound when struck: played either in pairs, by striking them together, or singly by striking with a drumstick or the like.
   • c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:

     The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,
     Tabours and cymbals and the shouting Romans,
     Make the sun dance.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 13::

     Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

   • 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, Act I, page 5:

     Trumpets and Drums shall fright her from the Throne,
     As sounding Cymbals aid the lab'ring Moon.

   • 1881–82, Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, "The Mystic Trumpeter":

     I see the Crusaders' tumultuous armies—hark, how the cymbals clang ...

• china

• → Welsh: symbal m or f

• IPA^(key): /sʏmˈbɑːl/

cymbal m (definite singular cymbalen, indefinite plural cymbalar, definite plural cymbalane)

1. alternative spelling of symbal

cymbal c

1. cymbal
2. dulcimer

• cymbal in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• cymbal in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• cymbal in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)