side drum (siddrum)

A small double headed drum used in military bands for marking the rhythm of marching and for giving sig nals. It is suspended at the player's side by a strap hung over his shoulder, and is sounded by strokes from two small wooden sticks. It is played only on one head, and the other or lower head has rattling or reverberating catgut or rawhide strings called snares stretched acro upon penetrating, almost devoid of genuine musical quality. Side-drums are, however, sometimes used in loud orches. tral music, either for sharp accents or to suggest military side-file (sid'fil), n. A file used to trim up the outer edges of the cutting-teeth of saws after hence the name snare -drum. The tone is noisy and scenes. setting. E. H. Knight.