jai alai

American  

[hahy lahy, hahy uh-lahy, hahy uh-lahy] / ˈhaɪ ˌlaɪ, ˈhaɪ əˌlaɪ, ˌhaɪ əˈlaɪ /

noun

1. a game resembling handball, played on a three-walled court between two, four, or six players who are equipped with a long, curved wicker basket, or cesta, strapped to the wrist for catching and throwing a small, hard ball against the front wall.

---

jai alai British  

/ ˌhaɪ əˈlaɪ, ˈhaɪ əˌlaɪ, ˈhaɪ ˈlaɪ /

noun

1. a version of pelota played by two or four players

---

Etymology

Origin of jai alai

1905–10; < Spanish < Basque, equivalent to jai game + alai merry

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jai alai

That explains the oversized glove, which for Anderson felt like a jai alai cesta compared with the modest mitts infielders use.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2025

"Like my dad always says: Everyone loves jai alai — some people just don’t know it yet," the younger Bueno said.

From Fox News ● Mar. 28, 2022

He hopes jai alai can make a comeback on simpler, if less lucrative, grounds.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 28, 2022

She and her brother Manuel were born in Cuba before coming to Miami, where their father was a professional jai alai player.

From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2021

A jai alai court is called a "fronton."

From Getting to know Spain by Don Lambo

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---