The Collaborative International Dictionary
Tympany \Tym"pa*ny\, n. [Gr. ?, fr. ? a kettledrum. See Tympanites.]
(Med.) A flatulent distention of the belly; tympanites.
--Fuller.-
Hence, inflation; conceit; bombast; turgidness. ``Thine 's a tympany of sense.''
--Dryden.A plethoric a tautologic tympany of sentence.
--De Quincey.
Wiktionary
n. 1 The sound made by beating a drum. 2 (context medicine English)tympanites#English (distention of the abdomen). 3 inflation; conceit; bombast; turgidness.
Usage examples of "tympany".
So they laded me againe, driving me before them with their naked swords, till they came to a noble City: where the principall Patrone bearing high reverence unto the goddesse, Came in great devotion before us with Tympany, Cymbals, and other instruments, and received her, and all our company with much sacrifice and veneration.
A measure begins all unrejoiced By the tympanies and the thyrsos hoist Of the Bromian revel-rout, O ye domes!
They beat their drums with flails, then beat themselves, then sounded the tympanies again.
The music came from a small orchestra -- delicate tympany, soft strings, and a rich chorus of wind instruments.