a membrane stretched over a frame or resonating cylinder, bowl, etc
2. printing
packing interposed on a hand-operated text between the platen and the paper to be printed in order to provide an even impression
3. architecture another name for tympanum (sense 3)
Word origin
Old English timpana, from Latin; see tympanum
tympan in American English
(ˈtɪmpən)
noun
1. Obsolete
a drum
2.
the paper, cardboard, etc. stretched over the platen or impression cylinder of a printing press to cushion the paper being printed and equalize type pressure
3.
any membranelike part
4. Architecture
tympanum
Word origin
ME < OE timpana & OFr tympan < L tympanum < Gr tympanon, a drum, area of a pediment, panel of a door < typtein, to strike, beat < IE *(s)teup-, to strike > steep1