pelota

American  

[puh-loh-tuh, pe-law-tah] / pəˈloʊ tə, pɛˈlɔ tɑ /

noun

plural

pelotas

1. a Basque and Spanish game from which jai alai was developed.

2. the game of jai alai.

3. the ball used in pelota and jai alai.

---

pelota British  

/ pəˈlɒtə /

noun

1. any of various games played in Spain, Spanish America, SW France, etc, by two players who use a basket strapped to their wrists or a wooden racket to propel a ball against a specially marked wall

---

Etymology

Origin of pelota

1890–95; < Spanish: ball < Middle French pelote; see pellet

Example Sentences

The regional government of Navarre has led a poster and video campaign against sexual assault featuring local role models - the singer Kutxi Romero, the Basque pelota player Unai Laso and the footballer Aimar Oroz.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2023

His trademark “La pelota se va, se va, se va, y despidala con un beso” is canon now for Spanish-language sports fans.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2021

The old ballgame: In the San Fernando Valley, a Mexican sport — pelota mixteca — is keeping a language alive.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2018

Presionando la pelota cada vez que Real trata de ingresar a la media cancha.

From The Guardian • May 28, 2016

Every village had a pelota court and on some of them kids were playing in the hot sun.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway