pato

[ pah-toh; Spanish 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 cheery Wilson, who sometimes goes by the nickname “Pato,” was born in Nigeria.

From The Daily Beast

But with the promise of mole de pato (duck), chiles rellenos and blue agave, it would be worth the struggle.

From The Daily Beast

Bellini turned yellow, and sneaked away like our old dog Pato at Casa Rigey when he had been stealing.

From Project Gutenberg

The bud resembles a web-footed animal swimming, hence its name flor de pato, ducks flower.

From Project Gutenberg