KETTLEDRUM

kettledrum. Kettledrum, n. a very large drum made of brass

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Ket″tle‐drum′ (–drŭm′), n. 1. 1. (Mus.) A drum made of thin copper in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with parchment stretched over the mouth of it.
☞ Kettledrums, in pairs, were formerly used in martial music for cavalry, but are now chiefly confined to orchestras, where they are called tympani. 2. 2. An informal social party at which a light collation is offered, held in the afternoon or early evening. Cf. Drum, n., 4 and 5.