pelota

[ puh-loh-tuh; Spanish pe-law-tah ]

noun

, plural pe·lo·tas [p, uh, -, loh, -t, uh, z, pe-, law, -tahs].

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pelota¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pelota¹

C19: from Spanish: ball, from Old French pelote; see pellet

Example Sentences

Jugavan a la pelota y a un juego con unas habas como a los dados, y a otros muchos.

From Project Gutenberg

Smuggler and pelota player,—two things which go well together and which are essentially Basque.

From Project Gutenberg

Se construyeron excelentes frontones; pero de algn tiempo a esta parte el football viene suplantando a la pelota como deporte.

From Project Gutenberg

Pelota is a hard, fast game, and sometimes serious injuries result from playing it.

From Project Gutenberg

The villages are much devoted to Pelota; and few are too poor to possess some species of primitive court.

From Project Gutenberg