pelt

¹

[pelt]

verb (used with object)

1. to attack or assail with repeated blows or with missiles.

2. to throw (missiles).

3. to drive by blows or missiles.

   The child pelted the cows home from the fields.

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

5. 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.

3. to hurry.

4. to beat or pound unrelentingly.

   The wind, rain, and snow pelted against the castle walls.

5. to cast abuse.

noun

1. the act of pelting.

2. a vigorous stroke; whack.

3. a blow with something thrown.

4. speed.

   running at full pelt.

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

pelt

²

[pelt]

noun

1. the untanned hide or skin of an animal.

2. Facetious.,  the human skin.

pelt

¹

/ pɛlt /

verb

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

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

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

4. to rain heavily

noun

1. a blow

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

pelt

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• unpelted adjective
• peltish adjective
• peltless adjective
• pelter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pelt¹

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

Origin of pelt²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pelt¹

C15: of uncertain origin, perhaps from _pellet

Origin of pelt²

C15: perhaps back formation from _peltry

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in one's pelt, naked.

Synonym Study

See skin.

Example Sentences

A number of Waymo self-driving vehicles were set on fire near Olivera Street, and a group of California Highway Patrol officers on the 101 Freeway were pelted with items from protesters on the overpass above.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Over that time, students and staff at Jordan High School complained that the facility’s operations coated their campus in toxic dust, occasionally pelted outdoor areas with shrapnel and disrupted classes with explosions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

His convoy was pelted with rocks on the campaign trail.

Read more on BBC

Police said workers of TLP "resorted to stone pelting, spiked batons, and petrol bombs" and opened "indiscriminate fire, resulting in casualties among civilians and law enforcement personnel".

Read more on Barron's

Last week, officers pelted a pastor in the head with a rubber pepper ball.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assail 
• batter 
• bombard 
• hurl 
• pepper 
• pummel 
• shower