crotal

noun

1. A crotalum, a type of clapper used in Ancient Greece.

2. A small round bell or rattle; a jingle bell.

   The earliest type animal bell used was the crotal or sleigh bell. Rather than a round ball as we know it today, it was a birdcage style with pebble rolling around inside.

Where it comes from

Either from French crotale or directly from Latin crotalum. Ultimately from Ancient Greek κρόταλον (krótalon, “clapper”). Doublet of crotalum.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry crotal (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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