cesta

noun

ces·​ta ˈse-stə How to pronounce cesta (audio)
: a narrow curved wicker basket used to catch and propel the ball in jai alai

Illustration of cesta

Illustration of cesta

Examples of cesta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With a rubber ball and cestas, the amateur jai-alai facility is at 1935 NE 150th St. in North Miami, near FIU’s North Campus. Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024 Dubbed the world’s fastest ball sport, jai alai involves players hurling and catching a pelota with a cesta on a three-walled court. Arian Campo-Flores, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2022 During the past few months, the athletes have been learning to maneuver long, curved baskets (cestas) strapped to their hands, and hurl the ball (pelota) against the court walls at speeds up to 170 mph. Michelle Kaufman, miamiherald, 29 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cesta.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, basket, from Latin cista box, basket

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cesta was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near cesta

Cite this Entry

“Cesta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cesta. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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