Meaning of CASTANETS
| Pronunciation: | | `kastu'nets
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | [n] 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 |
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| | Synonyms: | | bones, clappers, finger cymbals, maraca |
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| | See Also: | | percussion instrument, percussive instrument | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | \Cas"ta*nets\, n. pl. [F. castagnettes, Sp.
casta[~n]etas, fr. L. castanea (Sp. casta[~n]a) a chestnut.
So named from the resemblance to two chestnuts, or because
chestnuts were first used for castanets. See {Chestnut}.]
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.
Note: The singular, castanet, is used of one of the pair, or,
sometimes, of the pair forming the instrument.
The dancer, holding a castanet in each hand,
rattles then to the motion of his feet. --Moore
(Encyc. of
Music).
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| Thesaurus Terms |
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| | Related Terms: | | battery, bells, bones, celesta, chime, chimes, clappers, crash cymbal, cymbals, finger cymbals, gamelan, glockenspiel, gong, handbells, idiophone, lyra, maraca, marimba, metallophone, orchestral bells, percussion, percussion instrument, percussions, percussive, rattle, rattlebones, sizzler, snappers, tam-tam, tintinnabula, tonitruone, triangle, tubular bells, vibes, vibraphone, xylophone |
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