Definition

1. Noun:

   • A membrane stretched tightly over a drum: The material, often made of animal skin or synthetic material, that forms the playing surface of a drum. When struck, it vibrates to produce sound.
   • (Anatomy, historical/technical) The eardrum: A less common usage referring to the tympanic membrane.
   • (Nautical) A circular top of a capstan: The flat, circular head of a ship's capstan where bars are inserted for turning it.

2. Adjective:

   • Performed speedily and without formality; summary: Describes an action, especially a trial or court-martial, conducted hastily and with minimal procedure.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The drummer replaced the torn drumhead before the concert.
  • In the old anatomy text, the ear's tympanic membrane was labeled as the drumhead.
  • The sailors fitted the bars into the drumhead to hoist the anchor.

• Adjective:

  • The general ordered a drumhead court-martial to deal with the mutiny swiftly.
  • They faced drumhead justice, with a verdict reached in mere minutes.

Advanced Usage

• "Drumhead court-martial": A historical term for a military trial conducted in the field, often hastily and with simplified procedures, sometimes literally around a drum used as a table.
  • The accused soldier was convicted by a drumhead court-martial at dawn.

Variants and Related Words

• Drum (n): The percussion instrument itself.
• Drumming (n): The act of playing a drum.
• Drummer (n): A person who plays a drum.
• Summary (adj): The core meaning of the adjective form, meaning done without delay or formality.

Synonyms

• Noun (membrane): Drum skin, head.
• Adjective: Summary, expedited, hasty, informal, makeshift.

Related Phrases

• Drumhead service: A religious service, often military, conducted informally in the field.
  • The chaplain held a drumhead service for the troops before the battle.

Adjective

1. performed speedily and without formality
   • a summary execution
   • summary justice

Noun

1. a membrane that is stretched taut over a drum