castanets

/ˌˈkæstəˌˈnɛts/

/kæstəˈnɛts/

Castanets are a Spanish percussion instrument. Castanets are clicked together in rhythm with music and dance.

This plural noun is the name of a percussion instrument consisting of round pieces of shell, wood, or bone held in the fingers. Castanets were originally made from chestnuts and get their name from the Spanish diminutive for chestnut. Like drums, shakers, and other percussion instruments, castanets help create the rhythm in a piece of music. Castanets tend to be part of rhythmically lively music that makes people want to dance. Castanets are also called bones, clappers, and finger cymbals.

Definitions of castanets

1. noun

   a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
   synonyms: bones, clappers, finger cymbals

   type of:

   percussion instrument, percussive instrument

   a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by one object striking another