CASTANETS

n. small hand-held percussion instruments

n. small hand-held percussion instrument

For other uses of Castanet or Castanets, see Castanet (disambiguation). Castanets are percussion instrument (idiophone), much used in Moorish, Ottoman, Ancient Roman, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American music. The instrument consists of a pair of concave shells joined on one edge by string. These are held in the hand and used to produce clicks for rhythmic accents or a ripping or rattling sound consisting of a rapid series of clicks. They are traditionally made of hardwood, although fibreglass is becoming increasingly popular.
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Noun
1. 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
(synonym) bones, clappers, finger cymbals, maraca
(hypernym) percussion instrument, percussive instrument

(n. pl.)
Two small, concave shells of ivory or hard wood, shaped like spoons, fastened to the thumb, and beaten together with the middle finger; -- used by the Spaniards and Moors as an accompaniment to their dance and guitars.
  

A pair of wooden plates held together in one hand, which provide rhythmic accompaniment during a dance. Also called Castanuelas