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1

pelt

noun \ ˈpelt \

Definition of pelt

1 : a usually undressed skin with its hair, wool, or fur
  • a sheep's pelt
2 : a skin stripped of hair or wool for tanning

Origin and Etymology of pelt

Middle English, probably from pelett animal skin, from Anglo-French pelette — more at peltry

Other Fur and Leather Terms

chamois, fell, kip

2

pelt

verb

Definition of pelt

transitive verb
: to strip off the skin or pelt of (an animal)

Origin and Etymology of pelt

see 1pelt

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

3

pelt

verb

Definition of pelt

transitive verb
1 a : to strike with a succession of blows or missiles
  • pelted him with stones
b : to assail vigorously or persistently
  • pelted her with accusations
2 : hurl, throw
  • pelted snowballs at them
3 : to beat or dash repeatedly against
  • hailstones pelting the roof
intransitive verb
1 : to deliver a succession of blows or missiles
2 : to beat incessantly
3 : to move rapidly and vigorously : hurry
—

pelter

noun

Origin and Etymology of pelt

Middle English
4

pelt

noun

Definition of pelt

1 : blow, whack
2 chiefly British : a rapid pace : speed —usually used in the phrase full pelt
  • A friend still has the three lines up his legs where he ran full pelt into a barbed wire fence.
  • —John Woodhouse

First Known Use of pelt

circa 1540

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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PELT Defined for Kids

1

pelt

noun \ ˈpelt \

Definition of pelt for Students

: a skin of an animal especially with its fur or wool
2

pelt

verb

Definition of pelt for Students

pelted; pelting
1 : to hit with repeated blows
2 : to repeatedly throw (something) at
  • Children pelted each other with snowballs.
3 : to beat or pound against something again and again
  • Rain pelted on the roof.

Learn More about pelt

  1. See words that rhyme with pelt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pelt Spanish Central: Translation of pelt Nglish: Translation of pelt for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pelt

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