is a martial musical instrument in form of a cylinder, hollow within, and covered at the two ends with vellum, which is stretched or slackened at pleasure by the means of small cords or sliding knots: It is beat upon with sticks. Some drums are made of brass, but they are commonly of wood.

Kettle Drums, are two sorts of large basins of copper or brass, rounded in the bottom, and covered with vellum, or goat-skin, which is kept fast by a circle of iron, and several holes fastened to the body of the drum, and a like number screws to screw up and down. They are much used among the horse, as also in operas, oratorios, concerts, &c.

Drummer, he that beats the drum; of whom each company of foot has one, and sometimes two. Every regiment has a drum-major, who has the command over the other drums. They are distinguished from the soldiers, by cloaths of a different fashion: their post, when a battalion is drawn up, is on the flanks, and on a march it is betwixt the divisions.

Drum of the ear, in anatomy. See Vol. I. p. 299.