Now chiefly biblical. Also 6 tumbrel(le, timbril, -elle, tymbrel(le, Sc. timberall, 6–7 tym-, timbrell, 7 timbrill. [app. a dim. of the earlier TIMBRE sb.1 in same sense: see -EL2. So far as appears, it was an Eng. formation; but Sp. has a somewhat parallel dim. form in tamboril tabor, tabret, from tambor drum (cf. F. tambourin). More’s spelling appears to be due to confusion with the earlier word TUMBREL sb., which was also sometimes written timbrel.]
A musical instrument of percussion; a tambourine or the like that could be held up in the hand.
Chiefly used (to render Heb. tōph) in versions of the Bible from Coverdale onward, or in allusions to the biblical use, and in reference to Oriental instruments thought to be the same or similar. Cf. the earlier TIMBRE sb.1
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxvii. 45. Syne come thair four and twentie madinis ȝing,… Playand on timberallis, and syngand rycht sweitlie.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., III. Wks. 1261/2. If the Turke stode euen here with all his whole army about him, &… fel al at once in a shoute, with trumpets, tabrets, & tumbrels al blowen vp at once.
1535. Coverdale, Exod. xv. 20. Miriam the prophetisse … toke a tymbrell in hir hande, and all the women folowed out after her with timbrels in a daunse.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 14. A great noyse of cimbals, drumslades, timbrelles, shames, pipes, flutes,… and diuerse other musical instrumentes.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 277. The Indian Timbrels are two foot long, but broader in the middle than at the Extremities, much after the fashion of our Barrels. [app. = tom-toms.]
1768. Beattie, Minstr., I. xxxv. With merriment, and song, and timbrels clear.
c. 1850. Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.), 165. A little hunchbacked fellow came … and began playing on a timbrel, which he accompanied with his voice.
b. ? A figure of a timbrel. (Cf. bells, etc.)
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 7. Of their hosen … the nether partes were of Scarlet, poudred with tymbrelles of fyne golde.
c. attrib. and Comb.
1552. Huloet, Tymbrell player, tympanista,… tympanistria.
1757. Dyer, Fleece, II. Poems (1761), 102. O’er all the timbrel-sounding squares and streets.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., I. ii. The timbrel-girl sprang into the crowd and vanished.
