pétanque
[ pey-tahngk; French pe-tahnk ]
noun
a form of lawn bowling originating in France, usually played on rough ground using steel balls.
Origin of pétanque
11950–55; <French <Provençal pé foot (<Latin ped-, stem of pēs) + tanco post, stake (derivative of tancar to close, bar <Vulgar Latin *stanticāre;see stanch1); so called because the feet are to be planted firmly on the ground, as if staked, when the ball is released
- Also called boule.
Words Nearby pétanque
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for pétanque
pétanque
/ French (petɑ̃k) /
noun
another name, esp in the South of France, for boules
Origin of pétanque
1from Provençal pèd tanco foot fixed (to the ground)
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
Browse