Meaning & use
drumstick
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A stick, usually with a rounded tip, used to hit a drum and make a sound.
Grammar: Countable: one drumstick, two drumsticks. Often used in the plural when talking about a pair.
Patterns
- play with drumsticks
- a pair of drumsticks
The drummer dropped one of his drumsticks during the solo.
She bought a new pair of drumsticks for her music lessons.
He tapped the drum lightly with the tip of the drumstick.
nouncountable
The lower part of the leg of a chicken or turkey, cooked and eaten as food.
Grammar: Countable: a drumstick, two drumsticks. Usually refers to the meat on the bone.
Patterns
- a chicken drumstick
- eat a drumstick
My favorite part of the roast chicken is the drumstick.
She packed a turkey drumstick and some salad for lunch.
The children each got a drumstick and a piece of bread.
Word forms
| plural | drumsticks |
|---|
Common combinations
- play the drums with drumsticks
- He learned to play the drums with drumsticks at school.
- a pair of drumsticks
- She always carries a pair of drumsticks in her bag.
- chicken drumstick
- We grilled chicken drumsticks for the picnic.
- turkey drumstick
- The turkey drumstick was so big that it filled the plate.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: drumstick or drum stick?
drumstick vs drum stick
Sometimes written as two words, but the standard spelling is one word: drumstick.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'drumstick' correctly to mean the musical tool?
Choose one answer.
The musical tool is used to hit a drum, as in option 1. The other options refer to the poultry piece, not the musical tool.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “drumstick”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.