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Glite Dictionary
high-hat cymbal

high-hat cymbal

5.4
A pair of small metal plates on a stand that a drummer opens and closes with a foot pedal
  • noun
  • /ˈhaɪˌhæt ˈsɪmbəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : platillo hi-hat
  • The drummer played a quick rhythm on the high-hat cymbal during the jazz solo.

Examples

  • She adjusted the height of her high-hat cymbal before starting the performance.

  • Many beginners find it tricky to coordinate the foot pedal with the high-hat cymbal while drumming.

  • The high-hat cymbal is essential for drummers.

  • Can you hear the high-hat cymbals in this song?

  • Many beginners find it tricky to coordinate the foot pedal with the high-hat cymbal while drumming.

  • The drummer played a quick rhythm on the high-hat cymbal during the jazz solo.

  • She adjusted the height of her high-hat cymbal before starting the performance.

Synonyms

cymbal
vshigh-hat cymbal
13 3.9

A thin round metal plate that makes a loud ringing sound when struck

is the specific foot-pedal mounted pair used in drum kits
high hat
vshigh-hat cymbal
  • Specialized
5.1

A pair of cymbals on a stand played with a foot pedal

is identical in meaning but written with a hyphen

Surface Forms

high-hat cymbal singular
high-hat cymbals plural

Morphology

high-hat + cymbal

The overall meaning (a specific drum-kit device) is not predictable from the literal constituents 'high' and 'hat' plus 'cymbal' because 'hat' normally denotes headwear and does not suggest a paired percussion device. 'Hi‑hat'/'high‑hat' is a specialized musical term for a pair of cymbals on a stand, so a B1 learner who only knows the component words would unlikely infer this instrument sense without prior exposure.

Etymology

High-hat cymbal comes from a simple picture: two cymbals sit on a tall stand like a high hat, and a foot pedal makes them 'open' and 'close'. That's why the name refers to the pair of cymbals on a stand that drummers use with their foot to keep the beat.