pall-mall

noun

ˌpel-ˈmel

ˌpal-ˈmal,

US often ˌpȯl-ˈmȯl

: a 17th century game in which each player attempts to drive a wooden ball with a mallet down an alley and through a raised ring in as few strokes as possible

also : the alley in which it is played

Word History

Etymology

Middle French pallemaille, from Italian pallamaglio, from palla ball (of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball) + maglio mallet, from Latin malleus — more at ball, maul

First Known Use

circa 1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pall-mall was circa 1566

See more words from the same year