# drummer

/ˈdɹəmɝ/ (US) · /dɹˈʌmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drummer
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. musician

noun · CEFR A2

someone who plays the drums, especially in a band.

For teachers: a musician who plays various types of drums or percussion instruments.

- The drummer started a fast beat, and the rest of the band joined in.
- The session drummer was praised for his ability to maintain a complex polyrhythmic beat while the lead guitarist improvised.

### 2. poultry leg

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the lower part of a cooked chicken or turkey leg.

For teachers: the lower portion of the leg of a cooked bird, specifically a chicken or turkey.

- The kids always fight over who gets the last drummer from the roasted chicken.
- He served the fried chicken with a side of coleslaw, ensuring each guest received at least one drummer.

### 3. travelling salesman

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · American English

a person who travels to different places to sell products for a company.

For teachers: a commercial traveller or travelling salesperson who solicits orders for a firm.

- In the old stories, a drummer would go from town to town selling tools.
- The protagonist of the play is a weary drummer who has spent decades traversing the Midwest with a suitcase full of samples.

### 4. burglar

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English

a person who breaks into houses to steal things.

For teachers: a person who commits housebreaking or burglary.

- The police caught the drummer as he was trying to climb out of the window.
- The local constabulary warned residents to secure their back doors following reports of a notorious drummer operating in the area.

## Examples

- The drummer keeps a steady beat for the rest of the band.
- After the concert, the drummer spent an hour packing up his cymbals and hardware into heavy cases.
- While the lead guitarist often captures the audience's attention, the drummer provides the rhythmic foundation that allows the other musicians to improvise freely during the performance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.