An Entry Thursday, May 14, 2026
The Thiccctionary
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A pair of copper timpani, holding court among the music stands.

Plate XXXIV., A pair of copper timpani, holding court among the music stands.

Photo by Ray Kim on Unsplash

Kettledrum, Industrial

/KET-ul-drum in-DUS-tree-ul/  n.
  1. 1. A percussion instrument of imposing drum diameter, noted for its resonant shell and industrial-grade stoutness; esp. one observed in profile under stage lighting.
  2. 2. colloq. a clear instance of acoustic thicccness: all resonance, no apologies.
In a sentence,

"The ASBA kettledrum was so thiccc, the orchestra pit had to negotiate extra legroom. The conductor needed a map."

Etymology,

From Middle Dutch ketel, meaning 'cauldron', and Middle English drom, indicating 'drum'. Once referred to as the 'cauldron drum', which, frankly, tracks.

Frequently asked

Is an industrial kettledrum thiccc?

Yes. Kettledrum, Industrial is a catalogued Thiccctionary entry, ruled on May 14, 2026 and filed in the Musical Instruments section. Every subject in the catalogue has cleared the editorial bar for girth.

What makes an industrial kettledrum thiccc?

a clear instance of acoustic thicccness: all resonance, no apologies.

Is "thiccc" spelled with three c's?

Yes. The Thiccctionary house spelling uses three c's, distinguishing the editorial register from the colloquial "thicc" (two c's) and standard "thick" (one c).

Sources

  1. Photograph by Ray Kim, via Unsplash. Catalogued under plate XXXIV.
  2. Direct ruling URL: thiccctionary.com/is/kettledrum-thiccc/ — the shareable "Is a kettledrum thiccc?" page.
  3. Cross-reference: Thiccctionary A-Z, K.
  4. Catalogued under: Musical Instruments. See related entries below.
  5. Editorial review: pending objection from the Senior Cataloguer's office.

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