piñata

American  

[pin-yah-tuh, pee-nyah-tah] / pɪnˈyɑ tə, piˈnyɑ tɑ /

noun

plural

piñatas

1. (in Mexico and Central America) colorful papier-mâché figure or cheerfully decorated crock filled with toys, candy, etc., and suspended from above, especially during Christmas or birthday festivities, so that children, who are blindfolded, may break it or knock it down with sticks and release the contents.

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piñata British  

/ ˌpɪnˈjata /

noun

1. a papier-mâché party decoration filled with sweets, hung up during parties, and struck with a stick until it breaks open

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Etymology

Origin of piñata

1885–90; < Spanish: literally, pot < Italian pignatta, probably derivative of dial. pigna pinecone (from the pot's shape) < Latin pīnea, noun use of feminine of pīneus of the pine tree; pine ¹, -eous

Example Sentences

Repeatedly, the Mexican president has insisted that her country would be “nobody’s piñata.”

From Los Angeles Times

The admiral wiggled and kicked, which made him swing wildly, like a piñata in the midst of being beaten.

From Literature

The Dodgers somehow concealed their piñata of a bullpen in the three previous rounds of the postseason, but that bullpen is now catching up with them.

From Los Angeles Times

He met the woman he calls his esposa, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, at the second job he worked in the Piñata District.

From Los Angeles Times

It's like a piñata at the end of a kids party – it doesn't matter how many times you hit it, you're not going to get much more out of it.

From BBC