pelt

1
[ pelt ]
See synonyms for: peltpeltedpelting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to attack or assail with repeated blows or with missiles.

  2. to throw (missiles).

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

  2. to assail vigorously with words, questions, etc.

  3. 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)
  1. to strike blows; beat with force or violence.

  2. to throw missiles.

  1. to hurry.

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

  3. to cast abuse.

noun
  1. the act of pelting.

  2. a vigorous stroke; whack.

  1. a blow with something thrown.

  2. speed: running at full pelt.

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

Origin of pelt

1
First recorded in 1490–1500; Middle English pilten, pelten; further origin uncertain

Other words from pelt

  • un·pelt·ed, adjective

Words Nearby pelt

Other definitions for pelt (2 of 2)

pelt2
[ pelt ]

noun
  1. the untanned hide or skin of an animal.

  2. Facetious. the human skin.

Origin of pelt

2
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps back formation from peltry; compare Old French pelete, derivative of Latin pellis “skin”

synonym study For pelt

1. See skin.

Other words from pelt

  • peltish, adjective
  • peltless, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pelt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pelt (1 of 2)

pelt1

/ (pɛlt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to throw (missiles) at (a person)

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

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

  2. (intr often foll by down) to rain heavily

noun
  1. a blow

  2. speed (esp in the phrase at full pelt)

Origin of pelt

1
C15: of uncertain origin, perhaps from pellet

Derived forms of pelt

  • pelter, noun

British Dictionary definitions for pelt (2 of 2)

pelt2

/ (pɛlt) /


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

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

Origin of pelt

2
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