casta

‖n. [ L., a chestnut, fr. Gr. &unr_;. ] (Bot.) A genus of nut-bearing trees or shrubs including the chestnut and chinquapin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Castanets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ F. castagnettes, Sp. castañetas, fr. L. castanea (Sp. castaña) a chestnut. So named from the resemblance to two chestnuts, or because chestnuts were first used for castanets. See Chestnut. ] Two small, concave shells of ivory or hard wood, shaped like spoons, fastened to the thumb, and beaten together with the middle finger; -- used by the Spaniards and Moors as an accompaniment to their dance and guitars. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The singular, castanet, is used of one of the pair, or, sometimes, of the pair forming the instrument. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dancer, holding a castanet in each hand, rattles them to the motion of his feet. Moore (Encyc. of Music). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of warm regions valued for their foliage; found in southeastern U.S. and eastern Australia and northern New Zealand.
Syn. -- genus Castanopsis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. a genus consisting of one species, the Moreton Bay chestnut.
Syn. -- genus Castanospermum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of no value; rejected; useless. [ 1913 Webster ]