Origin: 1670–80; < F, MF timbale, alter. (by assoc. with cymbalecymbal) of tamballe, itself alter. (by assoc. with tambour drum, tambour) of Sp atabal < Ar al ṭabl the drum
[French timbale, from Old French, alteration (influenced by cymbale, cymbals) of tamballe, alteration (influenced by tambour, drum) of Old Spanish atabal, small drum, from Arabic aṭ-ṭabl, the drum : al-, the + ṭabl, drum; see tabla.]