pelt

[ pelt ]

/ pɛlt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pelt ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to attack or assail with repeated blows or with missiles.

to throw (missiles).

to drive by blows or missiles: The child pelted the cows home from the fields.

to assail vigorously with words, questions, etc.

to beat or rush against with repeated forceful blows: The wind and rain pelted the roofs and walls of the houses for four days.

verb (used without object)

to strike blows; beat with force or violence.

to throw missiles.

to hurry.

to beat or pound unrelentingly: The wind, rain, and snow pelted against the castle walls.

to cast abuse.

noun

the act of pelting.

a vigorous stroke; whack.

a blow with something thrown.

speed.

an unrelenting or repeated beating, as of rain or wind.

Nearby words

Origin of pelt

First recorded in 1490–1500; origin uncertain

Related formsun·pelt·ed, adjective

Definition for pelt (2 of 2)

pelt

[ pelt ]

/ pɛlt /

noun

the untanned hide or skin of an animal.

Facetious. the human skin.

Origin of pelt

1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps back formation from peltry; compare Old French pelete, derivative of Latin pellis skin

SYNONYMS FOR pelt

1 See skin.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pelt ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formspelt·ish, adjectivepelt·less, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pelt

Every sort of pelt, skin, or plumage was part of this collection.
Milan Fashion Week’s Big Finale: Versace and Dolce & Gabbana Wow, While Armani Falls Short|Robin Givhan|February 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Jean gave in and varnished his pelt thoroughly with my "punkie dope," as he called it; but, too late; the mischief was done.
Woodcraft and Camping|George Washington Sears (Nessmuk)
The snick, snick of his knife alternated with the sound of tearing as he pulled the pelt from the under-flesh.
In the Brooding Wild|Ridgwell Cullum
I killed a fox; but missing his head, opened the large arteries of the neck, and spoiled his pelt.
Adrift in the Arctic Ice Pack|Elisha Kent Kane

The dark den, with its walls of pelt and bone, its floor decked with frosted tears of ice, gave no excuse for cheer.
My Attainment of the Pole|Frederick A. Cook
But he dared not pelt the mongrel after what the bystander had said.
The Girls of Central High in Camp|Gertrude W. Morrison

British Dictionary definitions for pelt (1 of 2)

pelt

/ (pɛlt) /

verb

(tr) to throw (missiles) at (a person)

(tr) to hurl (insults) at (a person)

(intr; foll by along, over, etc) to move rapidly; hurry

(intr often foll by down) to rain heavily

noun

a blow

speed (esp in the phrase at full pelt)

Derived Formspelter, noun

Word Origin for pelt

C15: of uncertain origin, perhaps from pellet

British Dictionary definitions for pelt (2 of 2)

pelt

/ (pɛlt) /

noun

the skin of a fur-bearing animal, such as a mink, esp when it has been removed from the carcass

the hide of an animal, stripped of hair and ready for tanning

Word Origin for pelt

C15: perhaps back formation from peltry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pelt (1 of 2)

pelt

"to strike" (with something), c.1500, of unknown origin; perhaps from early 13c. pelten "to strike," variant of pilten "to thrust, strike," from an unrecorded Old English *pyltan, from Medieval Latin *pultiare, from Latin pultare "to beat, knock, strike." Or from Old French peloter "to strike with a ball," from pelote "ball" (see pellet (n.)) [Klein]. Watkins says the source is Latin pellere "to push, drive, strike." Related: Pelted; pelting.

Word Origin and History for pelt (1 of 2)

pelt

"skin of a fur-bearing animal," early 15c., of uncertain origin, perhaps a contraction of pelet (late 13c. in Anglo-Latin), from Old French pelete "fine skin, membrane," diminutive of pel "skin," from Latin pellis "skin, hide" (see film (n.)). Or perhaps the source of the English word is Anglo-French pelterie, Old French peletrie "fur skins," from Old French peletier "furrier," from pel.

pelt

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of pelt

Definition for pelt (2 of 2)

pelt

noun

Origin of pelt

Examples from the Web for pelt

British Dictionary definitions for pelt (1 of 2)

pelt

verb

noun

Word Origin for pelt

British Dictionary definitions for pelt (2 of 2)

pelt

noun

Word Origin for pelt

Word Origin and History for pelt (1 of 2)

pelt

Word Origin and History for pelt (1 of 2)

pelt