cabasa

noun

ca·​ba·​sa

kəˈbäsə

plural -s

: a percussion instrument made of a hollow gourd enclosed in a net of threaded beads for use in a Cuban band

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Portuguese cabaça, literally, gourd, from Old Portuguese calabazo; akin to Spanish calabaza gourd, Catalan carbassa

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

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