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pelt

noun (1)
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\ ˈpelt How to pronounce pelt (audio) \

Definition of pelt

 (Entry 1 of 4)

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

pelt

verb (1)
pelted; pelting; pelts

Definition of pelt (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

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

pelt

verb (2)
pelted; pelting; pelts

Definition of pelt (Entry 3 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : 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

pelt

noun (2)

Definition of pelt (Entry 4 of 4)

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

Other Words from pelt

Verb (2)

pelter noun

First Known Use of pelt

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1568, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for pelt

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

Middle English

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Time Traveler for pelt

Time Traveler

The first known use of pelt was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Pelt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelts. Accessed 16 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for pelt

pelt

noun
\ ˈpelt How to pronounce pelt (audio) \

Kids Definition of pelt

 (Entry 1 of 2)

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

pelt

verb
pelted; pelting

Kids Definition of pelt (Entry 2 of 2)

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.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pelt

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pelt

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with pelt

Spanish Central: Translation of pelt

Nglish: Translation of pelt for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pelt

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