castanet

noun

cas·​ta·​net ˌka-stə-ˈnet 

: a percussion instrument used especially by dancers that consists of two small shells of hard wood, ivory, or plastic usually fastened to the thumb and clicked together by the other fingers

—usually used in plural

Illustration of castanet

• castanets

Examples of castanet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And an eerie click-clicking of shivering teeth, like castanets. — Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

They were based on castanets from Andalucia. — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2019

After my scream, the only sound was Nora’s teeth chattering like castanets. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2025

As for his toolbox, Metzger used castanets and finger cymbals because they had been used in the song instrumentation. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Spanish castañeta, from castaña chestnut, from Latin castanea — more at chestnut

First Known Use

circa 1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for castanet

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bassinet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet

Kids Definition

castanet

noun

cas·​ta·​net ˌkas-tə-ˈnet 

: a rhythm instrument that consists of two small ivory, wood, or plastic shells fastened together and attached to the thumb and clicked together by the fingers

—usually used in plural

Etymology

from Spanish castañeta "castanet," from castaña "chestnut"