Rataplan

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A rhythmic tapping sound resembling a drumbeat or the rapid pattering of hoofbeats on a hard surface
2. A fast, repeated tapping noise similar to drum rolls or quick steps striking a solid surface
3. An agile percussive effect created by quick, successive taps akin to a horse's hooves clattering

Etymology: Rataplan is a sound word, built to imitate the noise it names. Its French ancestor, "ran tan plan", is a string of syllables meant to mimic the rhythm of a drum beating out a quick roll, with the repeated "ran tan" standing in for the striking sticks and "plan" for the final thud. The word moved from French into English, where it kept its role as a drumming term. Its shape stayed close to the original syllables, so anyone hearing it can almost follow the beat in the spelling itself. Because its sound does the work, it describes any fast, repeated tapping on a hard surface, not only military drums.

Synonyms: drumming, pounding