pato

American  

[pah-toh, pah-taw] / ˈpɑ toʊ, ˈpɑ tɔ /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of pato

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

Example Sentences

Bring on the marcona almonds and pato negro ham!

From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2017

Their torta de carnitas de pato perfectly captures this quaintly classy, refreshing approach.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2014

Cabrera, of course, would lose a popularity contest to Messi, but El Pato would win one with pato.

From Golf Digest • Oct. 16, 2013

El Tirindaro is a subspecies of coyote known as a patero, because he smuggles people into the United States by pushing them across the river on inner tubes while paddling like a pato, or duck.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Of wild fowl, there are enormous varieties, including the "pato real" or great tree duck, whistling mallard, various kinds of teal and shovellers, widgeon, muscony and hooded duck, black-headed geese, grey geese, and swans.

From Argentina from a British Point of View by Various