Castanet
//ˌkæs.təˈnɛt// noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A single handheld percussion instrument consisting of a pair of concave shells or shell-shaped parts joined on one edge by string. in-plural
Etymology
From Spanish castañeta, diminutive form of castaña, from Latin castanea, from Ancient Greek καστάνεια (kastáneia, “chestnut”), possibly of Pre-Greek origin. Related to the chest in chestnut, formerly chesten.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.