Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A series of short sharp sounds, as that made by knocking on a door.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A series of short, sharp taps, especially made by knocking on a door, beating a drum, or firing an automatic weapon

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a series of short sharp taps (as made by strokes on a drum or knocks on a door)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Imitative.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Onomatopoeic.

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