[Prob. echoic.] A signal by beat of drum (see quot. 1819).
1796. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Flam, a single stroke on a drum.
1819. Rees, Cycl., XII. s.v. Drum, The Flam is a beat made by the two sticks striking almost at the same instant on the head, but so as to be heard separately.
1848–9. in Southey, Comm.-pl. Bk., IV. 434. In beating the drum there is the roll, the swell, the flam and the ruffle.
1876. Voyle, A Military Dictionary (ed. 3), 140/1. Flam—A beat or tap upon the drum which was formerly used in the British army, when regiments were going through their drill or exercise, every formation being done by tap or beat upon the drum.
