I. ˈtam-ˌbu̇r, tam-ˈ noun
Etymology: Middle French, drum, from Arabic ṭanbūr, modification of Persian tabīr
Date: 15th century
1. : drum I,1
2.
a. : an embroidery frame ; especially : a set of two interlocking hoops between which cloth is stretched before stitching
b. : embroidery made on a tambour frame
3. : a shallow metallic cup or drum with a thin elastic membrane supporting a writing lever used to transmit and register slight motions (as arterial pulsations)
4. : a rolling top or front (as of a rolltop desk) of narrow strips of wood glued on canvas
II. verb
Date: 1774
transitive verb
: to embroider (cloth) with tambour
intransitive verb
: to work at a tambour frame
• tam·bour·er noun