Definition of Percussion

Per`cus´sion
n.1.The act of percussing, or striking one body against another; forcible collision, esp. such as gives a sound or report.
2.Hence: The effect of violent collision; vibratory shock; impression of sound on the ear.
The thunderlike percussion of thy sounds.
- Shak.
3.(Med.) The act of tapping or striking the surface of the body in order to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the sound emitted or the sensation imparted to the fingers. Percussion is said to be immediate if the blow is directly upon the body; if some interventing substance, as a pleximeter, is, used, it is called mediate.
Center of percussion
See under Center.
Percussion bullet
a bullet containing a substance which is exploded by percussion; an explosive bullet.
Percussion cap
a small copper cap or cup, containing fulminating powder, and used with a percussion lock to explode gunpowder.
Percussion fuze
See under Fuze.
Percussion lock
the lock of a gun that is fired by percussion upon fulminating powder.
Percussion match
a match which ignites by percussion.
Percussion powder
powder so composed as to ignite by slight percussion; fulminating powder.
Percussion sieve
a machine for sorting ores by agitation in running water.


Related Words

appulse, battery, bells, bones, brunt, bulldozing, bulling, bump, cannon, carambole, carom, castanets, celesta, chime, chimes, clappers, clash, collision, concussion, crack-up, crash, crash cymbal, crump, crunch, cymbals, encounter, finger cymbals, gamelan, glockenspiel, gong, hammering, handbells, idiophone, impact, impingement, jar, jolt, lyra, maraca, marimba, mauling, meeting, metallophone, onslaught, orchestral bells, percussion instrument, percussions, percussive, ramming, rattle, rattlebones, repercussion, shock, sideswipe, sizzler, sledgehammering, smash, smash-up, smashing, snappers, tam-tam, thrusting, tintinnabula, tonitruone, triangle, tubular bells, vibes, vibraphone, whomp, xylophone

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