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 plural

Illustration of castanet

• castanets

Examples of castanet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The beautifully spacious production adds Depeche Mode synth burbles, Phil Spector-style girl-group castanets, and piano frills straight off an Abba record. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026

Toque, or guitar playing, is accompanied by other instruments such as castanets, hand-clapping, and foot-stomping, UNESCO said. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026

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

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

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"