piste

[ peest ]

noun

1. a track or trail, as a downhill ski run or a spoor made by a wild animal.
2. (in fencing) a regulation-size strip, usually 2 meters wide and 14 meters long, on which fencers compete.

piste

/ piːst /

noun

1. a trail, slope, or course for skiing
2. a rectangular area for fencing bouts

Word History and Origins

Origin of piste¹

1720–30; < French: animal track < Italian pista, pesta, noun derivative of pestare to pound, crush < Vulgar Latin, frequentative of Latin pī ( n ) sere; pestle

Word History and Origins

Origin of piste¹

C18: via Old French from Old Italian pista, from pistare to tread down

Example Sentences

That’s a bonus in weird snow off-trail, but it demands a bit more muscle back on piste.

From Outside Online

Terrain at Asahidake is almost all off-piste, and better suited toward more advanced skiers/riders.

From The Daily Beast

Devant la piste de combat, quelques fauteuils et les banquettes rouges étaient sorties.

From Project Gutenberg

On our return to the piste, or flying field, we usually keep steadily at it until nearly dark.

From Project Gutenberg

And every one on the grande piste seemed to know to whom that machine belongedit was Alberts.

From Project Gutenberg

As the shadows slowly deepened over the earth the flyers, one by one, returned to the grande piste.

From Project Gutenberg

One just has to drive them in a straight line across the piste.

From Project Gutenberg