zill

1 9.9

A small metal instrument you wear on your thumb and middle finger and play for rhythm

noun
/zɪl/

: cymbales

I continue playing the zills all the while I take off each of the veils.

Examples

Now hear me ping the zills.

Fiction book (1998)
She played her zills gracefully, keeping the rhythm of the dance.
During the performance, the dancer expertly clinked the zills to create a beautiful melody.
As the belly dancer moved energetically, the sound of her zills filled the air with a lively beat.

Synonyms

cymbal

vszill

13 3.9

A thin round metal plate that makes a loud ringing sound when struck

is a small pair worn on fingers for delicate rhythmic playing

finger cymbals

vszill

1 7.3

A pair of small metal discs worn on the fingers and tapped to make a bright ring used in dance

is worn on thumb and middle finger and used for belly dance rhythms

ching

vszill

9.9

A small pair of metal cymbals used in traditional Southeast Asian music to mark the beat

is similar but tied to dance use and specific finger placement

Surface Forms

zill singular

zills plural

Etymology

The word zill comes from the Turkish word zil, meaning 'cymbal'. A zill is a small metal cymbal worn on the fingers to make rhythm in belly dancing, so the name simply names the tiny cymbal used in the dance.