Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Castanets
Cas′ta-nets
,Noun.
pl.
[F.
castagnettes
, Sp. castañetas
, fr. L. castanea
(Sp. castaña
) a chestnut. So named from the resemblance to two chestnuts, or because chestnuts were first used for castanets. See Chestnut
.] Two small, concave shells of ivory or hard wood, shaped like spoons, fastened to the thumb, and beaten together with the middle finger; – used by the Spaniards and Moors as an accompaniment to their dance and guitars.
☞ The singular, castanet, is used of one of the pair, or, sometimes, of the pair forming the instrument.
The dancer, holding a
castanet
in each hand, rattles them to the motion of his feet. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
Definition 2024
castanets
castanets
English
Noun
castanets (uncountable)
- A percussion instrument (idiophone) of Spanish origin, consisting of a pair of concave shells joined on one edge by a string, held in the hand and used to produce clicking sounds; any hand-held percussion idiophone that can be played with the fingers, such as bones or spoons.
Derived terms
References
- 2013. You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi and Raqs Shaabi. C. Varga Dinicu. Pg. 242.
Translations
a percussion instrument — see castanet