atabal

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish atabal, from Arabic الطَّبْل (aṭ-ṭabl, “drum”), طَبَلَ (ṭabala, “to drum”). Compare tabor, tymbal, tabla, davul.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈætəbɑːl/

Noun

atabal (plural atabals)

1. A kettledrum; a kind of tabor used by the Moors.
   • 1816, George Croly, Czerni George:

     The night was wild, the atabal / Scarce echoed on the rampart wall.

   • 1820, Charles Maturin, Melmoth the Wanderer:

     the trump, the gong, and the atabal. (III, xx)

Anagrams

• albata, balata

Asturian

Alternative forms

• altabal (Riosa)
• tabal (Eastern)
• atabalu (archaic)

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic الطَّبْل (aṭ-ṭabl, “drum”), طَبَلَ (ṭabala, “to drum”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ataˈbal/ [a.t̪aˈβ̞al]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: a‧ta‧bal

Noun

atabal m (plural atabales)

1. barrel (specially one used to store fish)

   Synonym: tonel

2. (in the plural) luggage, belongings, stuff

   Marchó de casa llenu d’atabales

   He/She left home loaded with luggage

Derived terms

• andar colos atabales

References

• “atabal”, in Diccionariu de la llingua asturiana [Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Asturian), 1st edition, Academy of the Asturian Language [Asturian: Academia de la Llingua Asturiana], 2000, →ISBN
• Xosé Lluis García Arias (2002–2004), “atabal”, in Diccionario general de la lengua asturiana [General Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Spanish), Editorial Prensa Asturiana, →ISBN

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic الطَّبْل (aṭ-ṭabl, “drum”), طَبَلَ (ṭabala, “to drum”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ataˈbal/ [a.t̪aˈβ̞al]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: a‧ta‧bal

Noun

atabal m (plural atabales)

1. atabal (kind of tabor used by the Moors)

Descendants

• → English: atabal

Further reading

• “atabal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025