piñata

noun

pi·​ña·​ta pēn-ˈyä-tə 

pin-

variants or pinata

: a decorated vessel (such as of papier-mâché) filled with candies, fruits, and gifts and hung up to be broken with sticks by blindfolded persons as part of especially Latin American festivities (as at Christmas or for a birthday party)

Illustration of piñata

Word History

Etymology

Spanish piñata, literally, pot, from Italian pignatta, probably from pigna pine cone — more at pignoli

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

piñata

noun

pi·​ña·​ta pēn-ˈyät-ə 

: a decorated container filled with candies, fruits, and gifts which is hung up to be broken open with sticks by blindfolded persons during festivities

Etymology

Spanish, literally, "pot"