bones
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,323 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 7,461 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- (used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance also: castanets, clappers, finger cymbals
bones in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Robert hated the old man--never made any bones about it.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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A clatter of bones and a creak of chains sounded like a laugh.
Myths and Legends of Our Own Land — Volume 02 · Charles M. (Charles Montgomery) Skinner · Chapter 1
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He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.
The nigger of the "Narcissus" · Joseph Conrad · Chapter 1
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Brant was a senior and a "Bones" man, and so had a leading part to play in the afternoon's drama.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Opening it, he revealed a collection of old bones; there were the bones of musk oxen, seals, walrus and smaller animals.
The Eternal Maiden · T. Everett (Thomas Everett) Harré · Chapter 1