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castanets
(kas′tə nets′)
plural noun
a pair of small, hollowed pieces of hard wood, ivory, etc., held in the hand by a connecting cord and clicked together with the fingers to beat time to music, esp. in Spanish dances
Origin: Fr castagnette (sing.) < Sp castañeta, dim. of castaña < L castanea, chestnut: so named from the shape
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