Tambourine vs. Timbrel — What's the Difference?

The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head.

The timbrel or tabret (also known as the tof of the ancient Hebrews, the deff of Islam, the adufe of the Moors of Spain) was the principal percussion instrument of the ancient Israelites. It resembled either a frame drum or a modern tambourine.

A percussion instrument resembling a shallow drum with metal discs in slots around the edge, played by being shaken or hit with the hand.

A tambourine or similar instrument.

A percussion instrument consisting of a small drumhead with jingling disks fitted into the rim, usually played by shaking and striking with the hand.

An ancient percussion instrument similar to a tambourine.

A similar instrument without a drumhead.

An ancient percussion instrument rather like a simple tambourine.

A tambourine dove.

(intransitive) To play the timbrel.

A kind of Provençal dance.

(transitive) To accompany with the sound of the timbrel.

The music for this dance.

A kind of drum, tabor, or tabret, in use from the highest antiquity.

To play the tambourine.

Small hand drum similar to a tambourine; formerly carried by itinerant jugglers

To make a sound like a tambourine.

A small drum, especially a shallow drum with only one skin, played on with the hand, and having bells at the sides; a timbrel.

A South American wild dove (Tympanistria tympanistria), mostly white, with black-tiped wings and tail. Its resonant note is said to be ventriloquous.

A shallow drum with a single drumhead and with metallic disks in the sides