pato

[pah-toh, pah-taw]

noun

1. an Argentine game played by two teams of four on horseback, resembling a cross between polo and basketball, using a ball with six large leather handles, the object of which is to place or throw the ball through the opponent's net that hangs from a 9 feet (2.7 meters) high pole.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pato¹

From Latin American Spanish (Argentina); Spanish: “duck” (of obscure origin; perhaps originally a nursery word, akin to pata “leg, foot of an animal”); paw ¹ ); the game was allegedly first played with a duck in a skin or leather bag

Example Sentences

The 25-year-old was in total control of the weekend from the minute he hit the track for the start of second practice, having handed his car to Mexican Indycar driver Pato O'Ward for the first session on Friday as one of the team's mandatory rookie sessions.

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Norris was replaced by Mexican Indycar driver Pato O'Ward, who was 13th fastest, while Red Bull's British junior Arvid Lindblad drove Verstappen's car.

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It’s been 12 months since Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward tasted arguably the biggest defeat of his career.

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McLaren’s Lando Norris, Verstappen’s title rival, also did not take part, handing his car to IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward, who trialled a new floor the team have brought for this race after months of development.

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Repurposed cans of El Pato tomato sauce hold succulents on Aurora Anaya’s front porch.

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