castanets Hear it!

castanets Definition

cas·ta·nets (kas′tə nets′)

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

Etymology: Fr castagnette (sing.) < Sp castañeta, dim. of castaña < L castanea, chestnut: so named from the shape

castanets Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • play: Now where's that woman who played the castanets?

Browse dictionary entries near castanets

  1. ‹ Castalia
  2. ‹ cast steel
  3. ‹ cast out
  4. ‹ cast off
  5. ‹ cast iron
  6. ‹ cast down
  7. ‹ cast away
  8. ‹ cast aside
  9. ‹ cast
  10. ‹ cassowary
  1. castaway ›
  2. caste ›
  3. Castellón ›
  4. castellan ›
  5. castellany ›
  6. castellated ›
  7. caster ›
  8. castigate ›
  9. Castiglione ›
  10. Castile ›