A pair of circular metal plates that are struck together to make a loud, ringing sound used in music and orchestras.
From Latin cymbalum, which came from Greek kymbale, possibly related to kymbos meaning cup. The instrument's name follows its shape—a bowl-like or cup-like form that creates resonance when struck.
Cymbals are one of the oldest percussion instruments, dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations, and they appear in religious ceremonies from Buddhism to Christianity. The 'crash' of cymbals has been used across cultures to mark moments of triumph, celebration, or divine presence.
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