Percussion

Percussion, per-kush′un, n. the forcible striking of one body against another: collision, or the shock produced by it: impression of sound on the ear: (med.) the tapping upon the body to find the condition of an internal organ by the sounds: in the jargon of palmistry, the outer side of the hand.—adjs. Percuss′ional, Percuss′ive.—ns. Percuss′ion-bull′et, a bullet so formed as to explode on striking something: an explosive bullet; Percus′sion-cap, a cap of copper partly filled with a substance which explodes when struck, formerly used for firing rifles, &c.; Percus′sion-fuse, a fuse in a projectile set in action by concussion when the projectile strikes the object; Percus′sion-hamm′er, a small hammer for percussion in diagnosis; Percus′sion-lock, a kind of lock for a gun in which a hammer strikes upon a percussion-cap on the nipple, igniting the charge; Percus′sion-pow′der, powder which explodes on being struck, called also fulminating powder.—adv. Percuss′ively.—ns. Percuss′or; Percuteur′, an instrument for light percussion in neuralgia, &c.—adj. Percū′tient, striking or having power to strike.—n. that which strikes or has power to strike. [L. percussion-em—percutĕre, percussum—per, thoroughly, quatĕre, to shake.]