castanets

British  

/ ˌkæstəˈnɛts /

plural noun

1. curved pieces of hollow wood, usually held between the fingers and thumb and made to click together: used esp by Spanish dancers

---

Etymology

Origin of castanets

C17 castanet, from Spanish castañeta, diminutive of castaña _chestnut

Example Sentences

Instead, the Ballet Nacional de España began its program on March 8 with “Invocación Bolera,” a modern evocation of the 18th-century escuela bolero, which is essentially Baroque ballet with Spanish poses and castanets.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2024

All castanets and flamenco skirts, this is a big, ballsy cabaret number about love driving you crazy.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2023

She dressed in an elaborate cloak, wielded a guitar and castanets and, when it was her turn to step into the center of the group and dance, did her best to master complex choreography.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2022

She claps her hands and the rings on her fingers clack like castanets.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 31, 2018

I secretly bought a pair of castanets and taught myself at least to emulate some of the sounds I heard from above.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers