pelota
UK[pəˈləʊtə]US[pəˈloʊtə]
n
A Basque or Spanish game played in a walled court with a ball and a wicker basket strapped to the hand.
n
The ball used in the game of pelota.
Etymology
The word 'pelota' entered English directly from Spanish, where it simply means "ball." Its Spanish form derives from the Vulgar Latin 'pilotta', a diminutive of the Latin 'pila', meaning "ball." The Latin 'pila' is believed to be related to the Proto-Indo-European root 'pel-', meaning "to fill, to swell," a concept naturally linked to the form of a ball. Thus, the journey from an ancient root describing a swollen shape leads directly to the modern term for the specific ball and game central to Basque and Spanish sporting culture.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Spanish and functions as a simplex unit in English. It is not productively formed from smaller English morphemes.
Examples
The rhythmic thump of the pelota against the fronton wall echoed through the village square.
He expertly caught the speeding pelota in his cesta and hurled it back with tremendous force.
Pelota, though less known internationally, is considered the national sport of the Basque Country.