Percussing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of striking or tapping an object to generate sound waves A technique involving rhythmic impacts to create auditory sensations The action of applying force to a surface for musical or diagnostic purposes
2. The act of rhythmically hitting a surface to create audible vibrations
3. Applying repeated impacts to an object to generate sound or examine its properties

Etymology: "Percussing" is the present participle of "percuss," so its story is really the story of the verb behind it. That verb comes from Latin "percutere," meaning "to strike" or "to beat," built from "per" (through) and "quatere" (to shake or strike). The idea of shaking something through by striking it is still visible in the core sense: the verb describes a sharp, forceful blow that sends vibrations through an object. The Latin root "quatere" also gave English "concussion," a word for a violent shaking or blow to the brain, and "discuss," which once meant to shake something apart before examining it. The shared ancestry shows how the same physical idea of shaking and striking spread into very different areas, from medicine to conversation.

Synonyms: strike, hit, tap