† drumslade, dromslade Obs.
Also 6 drombyllsclad, drombeslade, dromslet, droumslade, drumslade, -slad, -slate, -sled, -selet, -salt, dronscellett, -sselat, -slade, drounslade, -slet, drunslade.
[app. corruption of Du. or LG. trommelslag, Ger. trommelschlag drum-beat (cf. next); though it does not appear how this name of the action came to be applied to the instrument. The variety of forms (with others, as dronsselar, drumsted, which are mere copyists' errors) arose from the foreign character of the word.]
1. A drum, or some form of drum.
| 1527 St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 224 The dayly retinue of fotemen of this towne..wel trymmed and furnished with their dromslades, trompettes, and banerettes. 1530 Palsgr. 215/2 Dromslade, suche as almayns use in warre, bedon. 1539 T. Pery in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. II. 154 They cawssyde the trompettys with dronscellettys to go abowit the Cyte. 1548 [see drum n.1 1]. 1550–63 Machyn Diary (Camden) 13 Trompets and bagespypes, and dronsselats [printed -ars] and flutes. 1552 Huloet, Drunslade, tympanum. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 191 To strike uppon his Drumselet or Taberde. 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 153 The harsh antique consort of Fifes and Drumslads. |
2. A drummer; = drumslager.
| 1527 MS. Acc. R. Gibson, Master of Revels (Publ. Rec. Off.), ij cotis for the drombyllsclads of yelowe sarsenet. a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) Ii ij, These ydell trewandes gestours, tomblers plaiers, or dromslai[d]es. 1540 in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. xii. 242 Item, for Burtill and Hans, dromslades xxxiij s iiij d. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 44/3 The Musicians..in the Kings Majesties Household [are] 3 Drumslades. 1777 Hoole Comenius' Vis. World (ed. 12) 182 The drummers, and the drumslades..call to arms. |
3. Comb., as drumslade-player.
| 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 80 b, The Drumslad plaiers and other minstrels arayed in white. 1552 Huloet, Drumslade player, symphoniacus seruus. |