Castanets

Castanets, a musical instrument of percussion in the form of two hollow shells of ivory or hard wood, which are bound together by a band fastened on the thumb, and struck by the fingers to produce a trilling sound in keeping with the rhythm of the music. The krotalon used in the worship of Cybele and Dionysus was somewhat similar. The castanets were introduced into Spain by the Moors, and are much used as an accompaniment to dances and guitars.