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darbuka

a goblet-shaped hand drum of the Middle East and Turkey

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Where does the word "darbuka" come from? It comes from Arabic darabukka, passing through Turkish before entering English (1900s).

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Where does the word "darbuka" come from? It comes from Arabic darabukka, passing through Turkish before entering English (1900s).

Darbuka’s story begins in Arabic: darabukka meant “drum.” From 'daraba', to strike. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Turkish as darbuka. Used in Turkish, Roma and belly-dance music. It reached English by 1900s as darbuka. Entered English with Middle Eastern music; also spelled 'darabukka' and 'doumbek'. Today, darbuka means a goblet-shaped hand drum of the Middle East and Turkey.

  1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval darabukka "drum", from 'daraba', to strike.
  2. Stage 2 · Turkish · 1800s darbuka "goblet drum", used in Turkish, Roma and belly-dance music.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s darbuka "goblet drum", entered English with Middle Eastern music; also spelled 'darabukka' and 'doumbek'.

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