Why is a house called a drum?

[Tyranna 10]

Apparently not!!

 

Well apparently it has several other possible meanings - commonly used in Police and underworld circles, it may have come from the Romany Drom (meaning highway), or possibly a back formation from drummer - someone who knocks (drums) on people's doors, to buy or sell goods or looking for premises to rob!

 

In Ireland and Scotland, 'Drum' means a small hill and sometimes is used to refer to an ancient burial mound with a chambered tomb, but never a house or homestead, so whatever the origin of 'drum' meaning house, it will have nothing to do with ancient Celtic traditions at least...

[OldGold 0]

Well here's another slant on the origin that you might wish to consider. The use of the word 'Drum' to describe your place of abode, house or home,  is quite common North of the border here in Scotland. The word 'druim'  (pronounced drum in English) is used in both the Scottish Gaidhlig and also Irish Gaelic languages and  means a ridge or spine.  It's use us very ancient.  Common Scottish and Irish place names, in English, such as Drumnadrochit (Druim na drocheid), meaning 'bridge at the ridge'  or Druim na taigh (pronounced - drum na tay) meaning the ridge of a house roof. This latter use has been shortened over time to just 'druim' or drum in English. The ridge of the ancient thatched cottages was the most valuable and expensive component of the house. The walls were turf or unworked stone and the roof simple reed or straw thatch. These materials were freely available. However, the long heavy roof beam, the ridge beam or 'druim' was not readily available because wooded areas belonged to the Lord of a particular area.  An ordinary person couldn't simply go and cut down a big tree. To get such a beam, permission had to be given by the Lord. Payment had to be made or work in kind had to be undertaken. The drum was therefore very valuable. If a house fell into disrepair for any reason, the all important beam (Druim), would be removed and used in the building of a new house.  The ridge beam, drum or Druim , was so important in ancient house building that it came to denote the house itself and so passed from ancient usage down to our modern day language. Drum became synonymous with Home.  So, there you go.  Google up all the Scottish or Irish place names with Drum or Druim in them. They are all on or near a ridge. That's what it means. The roof over your head.       Simples.

[Cyclone 10]

Edit - old resurrected thread.

Edited May 3, 2019 by Cyclone

[beezerboy 12]

On 22/09/2006 at 07:08, never wrong said:

It is criminal slang years ago burglars used to go down roads knocking on doors until they came to empty house the distictive sound of a empty house gave name to this activity and it was called drumming and over many years a house became a drum. the echo from knocking at doors is completely different when the house is empty, believe me.

It was certainly around in the 50's, the above seems to make sense. May be it could be connected to door to dor salesmen knocking to drum up customers? 

[lazarus 68]

It was brought here by British soldiers returning from expeditions to Africa, the native huts resembled upturned drums. 

[spider1 11]

On 22/09/2006 at 11:46, granda-grunt said:

 

What as in 'Threppney Bit's?----- T**'s

Threppeney bit means   Pit  as  the coal miners used shortened to working down the threppeny when coal mines were open // A lot of my mates used to work 

down the threppeny   [Brookhouse / Treeton Pit

Edited May 3, 2019 by spider1

[kidley 48]

1 hour ago, spider1 said:

Threppeney bit means   Pit  as  the coal miners used shortened to working down the threppeny when coal mines were open // A lot of my mates used to work 

down the threppeny   [Brookhouse / Treeton Pit

A thrupney bit-bits ment something els where i came from (pitsmore), and yes drum was a very common saying for a house in the fifties.

[GOLDEN OLDIE 15]

On another subject, I've heard roads referred to as a 'drag' What is that all about?

[Longcol 596]

6 minutes ago, GOLDEN OLDIE said:

On another subject, I've heard roads referred to as a 'drag' What is that all about?

It's an Americanism - "main drag" is their equivalent of "high street".