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.

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jai alai British  

/ ˌhaɪ əˈlaɪ, ˈhaɪ əˌlaɪ, ˈhaɪ ˈlaɪ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of jai alai

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

Example Sentences

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

People think soccer is the best, but I preferred rugby, hockey, jai alai.

From Slate • Oct. 28, 2023

"This is the only place where you can make a living playing jai alai," Goitiandia said, wiping his brow after winning an exhausting round-robin doubles match.

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

Little boys are most interested in games with balls, like jai alai or football.

From Getting to know Spain by Lambo, Don