percussion
nounUS /pɚˈkʌʃən/
Etymology From Middle English percussioun, from Middle French, Old French percussion, from Latin percussiō (“striking”), from percutiō (“to strike”).
7 senses
- 1The collision of two bodies in order to produce a sound.
- 2The sound so produced.
- 3The detonation of a percussion cap in a firearm.
- 4The tapping of the body as an aid to medical diagnosis.
- 5The section of an orchestra or band containing…
- 6The repeated striking of an object to break or shape it…
- 7The outer side of the hand.
1
The collision of two bodies in order to produce a sound.
2
The sound so produced.
3
The detonation of a percussion cap in a firearm.
4
Medicine, Sciences The tapping of the body as an aid to medical diagnosis.
5
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music The section of an orchestra or band containing percussion instruments; such instruments considered as a group; in bands, may be separate from drum kits.
6
Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences The repeated striking of an object to break or shape it, as in percussion drilling.
- Moreover, a perfect Medal has its Profile and out-ſtroaks ſharp (Nummus aſper) and by no means rugged; the Figures clean and well poliſh'd; the Contours neatly trimm'd, and exactly round and carefully preſerv'd; that the Extancy and Relievos correſpond with the Ingraving, and have not ſuffer'd in Percuſſion; in all which, there is a certain Spirit of Antiquity and Excellency to be diſcern'd in Antient Medals almoſt inimitable.1697, J[ohn] Evelyn, “Instructions How to Collect, and Procure such Medals as are Antique, and Rare; and to Distinguish the True from the False, for the Prevention of Frauds and Impostures”, in Numismata. A Discourse of Medals, Antient and Modern. […], London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke […], →OCLC, page 201:
7
The outer side of the hand.