Etymology and alternative spellings First attested in English in the late 19th century, the Italian word derives from the Latin (pl. ), which is the latinisation of the Greek word (, pl. ), 'a hand drum',τύμπανον, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus which in turn derives from the verb (), meaning 'to strike, to hit'.τύπτω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Alternative spellings with y in place of either or both is—tympani, tympany, or timpany—are occasionally encountered in older English texts. Although the word timpani has been widely adopted in the English language, some English speakers choose to use the word kettledrums. The German word for timpani is ; the Swedish word is in plural (from the word ), the French and Spanish is , not to be confused with the latin percussion instrument, which would actually supersede the timpani in the traditional Cuban ensemble known as Charanga.
Etymology and alternative spellings First attested in English in the late 19th century, the Italian word d:erives from the Latin (pl. ), which is the latinisation of the Greek word (, pl. ), 'a hand drum',τύμπανον, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus which in turn derives from the verb (), meaning 'to strike, to hit'.τύπτω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Alternative spellings with y in place of either or both is—tympani, tympany, or timpany—are occasionally encountered in older English texts. Although the word timpani has been widely adopted in the English language, some English speakers choose to u,se the word kettledrums. The German word for timpani is ; the Swedish word is in plural (from the word ), the French and Spanish is , not to be confused with the latin percussion instrument, which wou:ld actually supersede the timpani in the traditional Cuban ensemble known as Charanga.