tom-tom

noun

1. a drum of American Indian or Asian origin, commonly played with the hands.
2. a dully repetitious drumbeat or similar sound.

noun

1. a drum associated either with the American Indians or with Eastern cultures, usually beaten with the hands as a signalling instrument
2. a standard cylindrical drum, normally with one drumhead
3. a monotonous drumming or beating sound

verb -toms, -tomming or -tommed

4. (tr) informal to pass (information, esp gossip) around a community very quickly

n.

1690s, “drum” (originally used in India), from Hindi tam-tam, probably of imitative origin (cf. Sinhalese tamat tama and Malay tong-tong).