Illustration of castanet
- castanets
castanet
noun
cas·ta·net ˌka-stə-ˈnet 
: a percussion instrument used especially by dancers that consists of two small shells of hard wood, ivory, or plastic usually fastened to the thumb and clicked together by the other fingers —usually used in plural
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Their structures were extremely variable—chaotic, almost, with castanet and rattling often absent. 
The Economist, 28 Nov. 2019 Jewish, Visigothic, Moorish, Italian, and French styles ooze into one another, jolted by castanets and tambourines. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 23 Nov. 2019 Ten small instruments, including a tambourine, a castanet and a pair of maracas, are delivered in a sturdy wooden crate. Grace Schneider, The Courier-Journal, 18 Nov. 2019 My driver plays traditional folkloric music the entire way, telling me the metal of the castanets is meant to recall the sounds of the chains the slaves wore. National Geographic, 23 July 2019 The first movement has the sound of a Russian folk song, but following a flowing second movement, the rondo finale is a burst of Spanish color, complete with castanets. Patrick Neas, kansascity, 17 Feb. 2018 The first movement has the sound of a Russian folk song, but following a flowing second movement, the rondo finale is a burst of Spanish color, complete with castanets. Patrick Neas, kansascity, 17 Feb. 2018 In his production of Bizet’s classic work, which opens at the Royal Opera House here on Feb. 6 and runs through March 16, Mr. Kosky has stripped away the castanets and other clichés. Matthew Anderson, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2018 And in lieu of castanets, our drummer Claudia is playing a bicycle wheel with a playing card. Natalie Weiner, Billboard, 14 July 2017 See More
The Economist, 28 Nov. 2019 Jewish, Visigothic, Moorish, Italian, and French styles ooze into one another, jolted by castanets and tambourines. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 23 Nov. 2019 Ten small instruments, including a tambourine, a castanet and a pair of maracas, are delivered in a sturdy wooden crate. Grace Schneider, The Courier-Journal, 18 Nov. 2019 My driver plays traditional folkloric music the entire way, telling me the metal of the castanets is meant to recall the sounds of the chains the slaves wore. National Geographic, 23 July 2019 The first movement has the sound of a Russian folk song, but following a flowing second movement, the rondo finale is a burst of Spanish color, complete with castanets. Patrick Neas, kansascity, 17 Feb. 2018 The first movement has the sound of a Russian folk song, but following a flowing second movement, the rondo finale is a burst of Spanish color, complete with castanets. Patrick Neas, kansascity, 17 Feb. 2018 In his production of Bizet’s classic work, which opens at the Royal Opera House here on Feb. 6 and runs through March 16, Mr. Kosky has stripped away the castanets and other clichés. Matthew Anderson, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2018 And in lieu of castanets, our drummer Claudia is playing a bicycle wheel with a playing card. Natalie Weiner, Billboard, 14 July 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish castañeta, from castaña chestnut, from Latin castanea — more at chestnut
First Known Use
circa 1647, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
castanet
noun
cas·ta·net ˌka-stə-ˈnet
: a rhythm instrument that consists of two small flat round parts fastened to the thumb and clicked by the fingers —usually used in pl.