A clear struck tone made to be noticed without alarming. Sound used as a gentle mark in time.
Middle English chymbe, earlier chimbebelle (a set of bells tuned to one another), probably from Old French cymbale, from Latin cymbalum, from Greek kymbalon, from kymbe (a cup, a bowl).
A clear struck tone made to be noticed without alarming anyone — sound used as a gentle marker in time rather than as a warning.