English

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Etymology

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From Middle English percussioun, from Middle French, Old French percussion, from Latin percussiō (striking), from percutiō (I strike).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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percussion (countable and uncountable, plural percussions)

  1. (countable) The collision of two bodies in order to produce a sound.
  2. (countable) The sound so produced.
  3. (countable) The detonation of a percussion cap in a firearm.
  4. (medicine) The tapping of the body as an aid to medical diagnosis.
  5. (music) The section of an orchestra or band containing percussion instruments; such instruments considered as a group; in bands, may be separate from drum kits.
  6. (engineering) The repeated striking of an object to break or shape it, as in percussion drilling.
    • 1697, J[ohn] Evelyn, “Instructions How to Collect, and Procure such Medals as are Antique, and Rare; and to Distinguish the True from the False, for the Prevention of Frauds and Impostures”, in Numismata. A Discourse of Medals, Antient and Modern. [], London: [] Benj[amin] Tooke [], →OCLC, page 201:
      Moreover, a perfect Medal has its Profile and out-ſtroaks ſharp (Nummus aſper) and by no means rugged; the Figures clean and well poliſh'd; the Contours neatly trimm'd, and exactly round and carefully preſerv'd; that the Extancy and Relievos correſpond with the Ingraving, and have not ſuffer'd in Percuſſion; in all which, there is a certain Spirit of Antiquity and Excellency to be diſcern'd in Antient Medals almoſt inimitable.
  7. (palmistry) The outer side of the hand.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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French

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Etymology

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From Latin percussiōnem.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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percussion f (plural percussions)

  1. percussion (tapping of the body)
  2. (music) percussion

Descendants

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  • Turkish: perküsyon

Further reading

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