drum-barrel

drum-barrel

A worker rolls a drum-barrel across the factory floor.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A cylindrical part of a drum: "drum-barrel" refers to the main body or shell of a drum, typically a cylindrical structure that forms the resonant chamber. It is the part that holds the drumheads and contributes to the instrument's sound.
    • A barrel-shaped drum: In some contexts, "drum-barrel" can denote a type of drum that is shaped like a barrel, often used in traditional or folk music.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The drummer replaced the cracked drum-barrel to restore the instrument's tone. (The cylindrical shell of the drum was damaged and needed a new one.)
    • In many African traditions, the drum-barrel is carved from a single log. (The main body of the drum is made from wood.)
Advanced Usage

  • "drum-barrel construction": the method of building the cylindrical body of a drum.

    • The drum-barrel construction uses multiple plies of wood for durability. (The shell is made from several layers of wood.)

  • "drum-barrel resonance": the acoustic property of the drum's shell.

    • A deeper drum-barrel resonance gives the drum a richer, lower pitch. (The shell's shape affects the sound quality.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Drumhead (n): the membrane stretched over a drum-barrel that is struck to produce sound.

    • He tightened the drumhead to change the pitch. (The skin or plastic cover on the drum.)

  • Barrel drum (n): a type of drum with a barrel-shaped body.

    • The barrel drum is common in Middle Eastern music. (A drum shaped like a barrel.)
Synonyms
  • Shell: the outer casing of a drum.
  • Cylinder: a geometric shape similar to a drum-barrel.
Related Idioms
  • Beat the drum-barrel: to emphasize or promote something vigorously (a less common variant of "beat the drum").
    • The politician beat the drum-barrel for his new policy. (He promoted it loudly and persistently.)

Note: This word is rare in modern English; "drum shell" is far more common. The reference definition from the Vietnamese dictionary ("tang trống") refers to the drumhead (the top surface), not the barrel. However, the word "drum-barrel" as a compound specifically denotes the cylindrical body.