castanets

Meanings

Noun

• a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
• A percussion instrument (idiophone) of Spanish origin, consisting of a pair of concave shells joined on one edge by a string, held in the hand and used to produce clicking sounds; any hand-held percussion idiophone that can be played with the fingers, such as bones or spoons.

Synonyms

bones, clappers, finger cymbals