Guiro

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /'gwɪɹoÊŠ/, /'gwiːɹoÊŠ/
• UK IPA: /ˈɡwaɪɹəʊ/

Origin

From Spanish güiro.

Full definition of guiro

Noun

1. A musical instrument made of a hollow gourd with parallel notches cut in one side, and played by rubbing a stick or scraper ("pua") along the notches to produce a ratchet-like sound.
• 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 721:The house band consisted of gigantic guitars, fiddles, trumpets, and accordion, with rhythms provided by a batería including timbales, guiros, and congas.

Synonyms