castanets

noun

1. either of a pair of concave pieces of wood held in the palm of the hand and clicked together, usually to accompany dancing.

pl n

1. curved pieces of hollow wood, usually held between the fingers and thumb and made to click together: used esp by Spanish dancers

n.

usually castanets, 1640s, from French castagnette or directly from Spanish castañeta diminutive of castaña “chestnut,” from Latin castanea (see chestnut).