Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

percussion

per.cus.sion \p*r-'k*sh-*n\ n [L percussion-, percussio, fr. percussus, pp. 
   of percutere] to beat, fr. per- thoroughly + quatere to shake - more at 
   PER-, QUASH 1: the act of percussing : as  1a: the striking of a percussion 
   cap so as to set off the charge in a firea rm 1b: the beating or striking 
   of a musical instrument  1c: the act or technique of tapping the surface of 
   a body part to learn the  condition of the parts beneath by the resultant 
   sound 2: the striking of sound on the ear  3: percussion instruments esp. 
   as forming a section of a band or orchestra