castanet

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   one of a pair of small shell-shaped percussion instruments clicked together by the fingers, especially in Spanish dance

   Each castanet clicked sharply as the flamenco dancer turned.

From Spanish castañeta, a diminutive of castaña ("chestnut"), because the hollow wooden shells resemble chestnut halves. Castaña comes through Latin castanea from Greek kastaneia, a word of uncertain, possibly pre-Greek origin.

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