The Spanish word 'tambor' (meaning 'drum') has an interesting journey through multiple languages. It originated from the Ancient Greek word 'tympanon' (τύμπανον), which meant 'drum'. This Greek word was borrowed into Arabic as 'ṭabal' (طبل), maintaining its meaning of 'drum'. As Arabic culture and language spread into medieval Spain, the word evolved in Hispano-Arabic to 'ṭabbūl'. This then entered Old Spanish as 'atambor', with the Arabic article 'a-' attached to the front. Finally, the word simplified to the modern Spanish 'tambor'.

This etymology shows how musical terms often traveled across cultures and languages in the Mediterranean region, particularly during the period of Arabic influence in medieval Spain.

Some related Spanish words include 'tamboril' (a small drum or tambourine), 'tamborilero' (a drummer), and 'tamborear' (to drum or tap rhythmically). These words are all derived from the same root and form a family of percussion-related terms in Spanish.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'tympani' and 'timpani' (the orchestral kettledrums), which come from the same Greek root 'tympanon'. The word 'tympanum', meaning the eardrum, also shares this ancestry - it was named because of its drum-like appearance and function. These connections show how the ancient Greek word for drum has influenced musical and anatomical terminology in both English and Spanish.