rataplan, n.
(rætəˈplæn)
[a. F. rataplan, of echoic origin.]
A drumming or beating noise; a tattoo, rub-a-dub.
| 1847–8 G. A. A'Beckett Comic Hist. Eng. vii. i, The sheriff..ordered the drums to strike up a rataplan. 1882 Ouida Under Two Flags (1890) 345 She laughed and drummed the rataplan with her brass heel. 1897 19th Cent. June 936 The ceaseless rataplan of the bats of the washer-women. |
Hence rataˈplan v. (a) trans. To play (a march, etc.) by beating; (b) intr. To beat upon (a drum).
| 1865 Daily Tel. 15 Dec. 5/2 An absurd drummer-boy rataplanning..some march adapted from the Rogue's own. 1889 Daily News 16 Dec. 3/6 A large white rabbit rataplans upon a big drum. |