snare drum

2 definitions found

snare drum - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Snare \Snare\, n. [AS. sneara cord, a string; akin to D. snoer,
     G. schnur, OHG. snour a cord, snarahha a noose, Dan. snare,
     Sw. & Icel. snara, Goth. sn?rj? a basket; and probably also
     to E. needle. See Needle, and cf. Snarl to entangle.]
     1. A contrivance, often consisting of a noose of cord, or the
        like, by which a bird or other animal may be entangled and
        caught; a trap; a gin.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Hence, anything by which one is entangled and brought into
        trouble.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed,
              Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee.
                                                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The gut or string stretched across the lower head of a
        drum.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Med.) An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or
        noose, for removing tumors, etc., by avulsion.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Snare drum, the smaller common military drum, as
        distinguished from the bass drum; -- so called because (in
        order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across
        its lower head a catgut string or strings.
        [1913 Webster]

snare drum - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  snare drum
      n 1: a small drum with two heads and a snare stretched across
           the lower head [syn: snare drum, snare, side drum]