The Rice University Neologisms Database

a rudimentary drum exercise that involves the following sticking: {left, right, left, left} or {right, left, right, right} Type of word formation: onomatopoeia: Used for the sound; pronouncing “paradiddle” seems to replicate the sound of four drum beats. I personally disagree with this notion, but that is what the instructor said when asked about the reason for the word. Otherwise, I’d claim that this was a root creation. Reason used: Unknown Example sentence: One of the exercises you must successfully complete in order to advance to the state competition is to perform a series of paradiddles and flam-paradiddles in thirty seconds or less.