Bullroarer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A flat wooden slat tied to a cord and whirled overhead to produce a deep roaring or whooshing sound, used in rituals and ceremonies by indigenous peoples
2. An ancient ritual instrument consisting of a wooden board attached to a string that creates a loud roaring noise when spun rapidly through the air
3. A wooden implement swung on a cord that generates a distinctive roaring sound, traditionally employed in spiritual and ceremonial practices by various cultures

Etymology: A bullroarer is a flat slab of wood or other material tied to a string and whirled overhead, producing a loud droning roar. The name is a compound of "bull" and "roarer," and the sound is the whole point: the instrument was named for the bellowing noise it makes, which the "bull" element reinforces by evoking the deep, rough roar of the animal. "Roarer" is a plain agent noun built from "roar," so the compound describes exactly what the object does, one thing that roars. The word's origins are therefore transparent, and its meaning has stayed close to its physical source since it was formed.

Synonyms: bull-roarer, whirler