Wiktionary
drum roll
alt. A sound produced by hitting a drum repeatedly and rhythmically over short intervals. n. A sound produced by hitting a drum repeatedly and rhythmically over short intervals.
WordNet
drum roll
n. the sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously [syn: paradiddle, roll]
Wikipedia
Drum roll
A drum roll (or roll for short) is a technique the percussionist employs to produce, on a percussion instrument, a sustained sound, "over the value of the written note." Rolls are used by composers to sustain the sound and create other effects, the most common of which is using a roll to build anticipation.
Usage examples of "drum roll".
At that moment, they both heard the message drum roll across the mountains, and Sebell hastily strode back to the drums.