Clave
/ˈklɑːveɪ/noun
A pair of wooden sticks struck together to keep rhythm in Afro-Cuban music.
Did you know?In Spanish, *clave* also means “key,” and that same Latin root spread into words like *clue* and *clef* — all tied to the ancient idea of something that unlocks or reveals.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Lat
clavis
“a key; a bolt or latch”
Old French
OFr
clef
“a key”
Middle English
ME
clef
“a key; later, a musical symbol”
Spanish
Spa
clave
“a key; a crucial code or solution”
Modern English
Eng
clave
“the rhythmic pattern that organizes Afro-Cuban music”