pelota

noun

pe·​lo·​ta pə-ˈlō-tə How to pronounce pelota (audio)
1
: a court game related to jai alai
2
: the ball used in jai alai

Examples of pelota in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Athletes competed in a variety of sports and other competitions, including Basque pelota, croquet and tug of war, but there were no opening or closing ceremonies. Kori Rumore, chicagotribune.com, 3 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Old French pelote little ball — more at pellet

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pelota was in 1807

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Cite this Entry

“Pelota.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelota. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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