shakers

Shaker is a term with several distinct meanings. In music, a shaker is a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow container filled with seeds or beads that sound when the object is moved. The category includes items such as maracas, egg shakers, and cabasas, used for rhythm, texture, and educational purposes in ensembles and classrooms.

In the religious tradition, the Shakers refer to the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, a communal, celibate, pacifist movement founded in 18th-century England and later established in North America. Shaker communities were known for simple, functional craft and design, egalitarian gender roles, and distinctive worship practices that featured singing, dancing, and shaking as expressions of devotion. The movement peaked in the 19th century and declined in the 20th, with a small number of communities and adherents remaining today, notably in Sabbathday Lake, Maine.

In everyday life, shaker also denotes a device or container used to dispense or mix substances. Salt and pepper shakers are common kitchen items, while a cocktail shaker is used by bartenders to mix drinks by shaking with ice. The latter comes in several forms, including the three-piece cobbler shaker and the two-piece Boston shaker, both enabling rapid chilling and blending of ingredients.