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

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

His pass of Pato O’Ward two corners from the finish line gave Penske a record-extending 20th Indy 500 victory and made Newgarden the first back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves did it for Penske in 2001-02.

From Seattle Times

Pato O’Ward, who will start in the middle of the third row for McLaren, had the fifth-fastest lap at 225.738 mph, but he came away from practice in a funk.

From Seattle Times