Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

muleta

American  
[moo-lay-tuh, -let-uh] / muˈleɪ tə, -ˈlɛt ə /

noun

  1. a red cloth similar to but smaller than a capa and manipulated by a stick set into one of the three holes in or near the center, for use by a matador in guiding the course of the bull's attack in the stage of the fight preparatory to the kill.


muleta British  
/ mjuːˈlɛtə /

noun

  1. the small cape attached to a stick used by the matador during the final stages of a bullfight

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of muleta

1830–40; < Spanish: prop, support, muleta, diminutive of mula (feminine) mule 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Finally the animal was slowed to a befuddled walk, drawn to the muleta as though hypnotized.

From Time Magazine Archive

In a few minutes he was back at the market with a faded red muleta and, wrapped in its folds, the blade of his favorite sword.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then he drew his sword from underneath the muleta, profiled and lunged at the bull.

From Time Magazine Archive

Every time the vicious young bull charged, the tall, blonde girl from Texas spun him past her high-waisted Andalusian pants with a flick of the crimson muleta.

From Time Magazine Archive

Out in the centre of the ring Romero profiled in front of the bull, drew the sword out from the folds of the muleta, rose on his toes, and sighted along the blade.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training