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Definition of percussion : 1. Hence: The effect of violent collision; vibratory shock; impression of sound on the ear.
2. The act of percussing, or striking one body against another; forcible collision, esp. such as gives a sound or report.
3. The act of tapping or striking the surface of the body in order to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the sound emitted or the sensation imparted to the fingers. Percussion is said to be immediate if the blow is directly upon the body; if some interventing substance, as a pleximeter, is, used, it is called mediate.

Synonyms:

pleximetry, rhythm section, jar, concussion, shock, jolt, crash, smash, drumming, bump, blow, impact, percussion section, conflict, collision

Usage examples:

• It is admirably clear and is divided into three parts, the first giving advice on bowing, " pressing the bow lightly but steadily, upon the strings in such a manner as that it shall seem to breathe the first tone it gives, which must proceed from the friction of the string, and not from percussion, as by a blow given with a hammer upon it,- if the tone is begun with delicacy, there is little danger of rendering it afterwards either coarse or harsh." - "Famous Violinists of To-day and Yesterday", Henry C. Lahee.
• 69, altered to percussion. - "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, Vol. 1 (of 2)", Jefferson Davis.
• At the encampments near the winter station we found a couple of percussion- lock guns, with caps, powder and lead. - "The Voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe, Volume I and Volume II", A.E. Nordenskieold.