zill
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zill
(zĭl)n.
One of a pair of round metal cymbals attached to the fingers and struck together for rhythm and percussion in belly dancing.
[Turkish zil, cymbals, probably (perhaps via Armenian zil, highest-pitched pair of strings on an oud) from Persian zīr, highest-pitched pair of strings on an oud, shrill sound, probably from Arabizing alteration of Persian zēr, under, below (in reference to the fact that when a player holds an oud to be played, the bottom pair of strings is tuned the highest), from Middle Persian azēr, under, below : az, from, out of (from Old Iranian hačā; see sekw- in Indo-European roots) + ēr, down, below (from Old Iranian aδara-, lower; see n̥dher- in Indo-European roots).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
zill
(zɪl)n
1. (Instruments) a finger cymbal used to keep rhythm in belly-dancing
2. (Dancing) a finger cymbal used to keep rhythm in belly-dancing
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
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Noun | 1. | zill - one of a pair of small metallic cymbals worn on the thumb and middle finger; used in belly dancing in rhythm with the dance cymbal - a percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk; makes a loud crashing sound when hit with a drumstick or when two are struck together |
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