Timpani (noun)

A large drum with a shallow circular body and a membranous head, played with a drumstick.

Origin:

From the italian word "timballo", meaning "kettle drum".

Examples:

1. The timpani were the largest and most powerful percussion instruments in the symphony orchestra.
2. The timpani provided the underlying rhythm for many pieces of classical music, including Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
3. The timpanist used a foot pedal to tune the drum, adjusting the tension on the head to produce the desired pitch.
4. The timpani was an important instrument in military and ceremonial music, used to signal orders and set the tempo.
5. The timpani was also used in popular music, rock and roll, and jazz, adding a deep and powerful pulse to the beat.