tabla

Where does the word "tabla" come from? It comes from Arabic tabl, passing through Hindi/Urdu before entering English (1860s).

Tabla’s story begins in Arabic: tabl meant “a drum.” A drum, the root behind a pair of hand drums used in South Asian music. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi/Urdu as tabla. Adapted into South Asian classical music for the paired hand drums. It reached English by 1860s as tabla. Developed in the Mughal era; Zakir Hussain made it famous worldwide. Today, tabla means a pair of hand drums used in South Asian classical and popular music.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval tabl "a drum", a drum, the root behind a pair of hand drums used in South Asian music.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi/Urdu · medieval tabla "a pair of hand drums", adapted into South Asian classical music for the paired hand drums.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1860s tabla "a pair of South Asian hand drums", developed in the Mughal era; Zakir Hussain made it famous worldwide.