tambourine

Also timbrel

A hand-carried percussion instrument, popularly used by women, and forbidden in the Temple. It was associated with religious hymns (Exod 15:20; “Miriam”; Ps 68:25, “girls”; Ps 89:2, Ps 149:3, Ps 150:4; Jer 31:4, “virgin Israel”). Usually reflecting joyous occasions (Isa 24:8; Judg 11:34), it may have carried unfortunate connotations from its female symbolism at fertility rites.