cymbal: [14] The notion underlying cymbal is of a ‘hollow vessel’. Greek kúmbē meant ‘cup, bowl’. From it was derived kúmbalon, which passed via Latin cymbalum into Old French as cimbal ‘metal plate struck to make a noise’. This did not survive much beyond the 10th century (although it may have given rise before its demise to chime), but the word was reborrowed via Old French symbale in the 14th century. => chime
