jai alai

[ hahy lahy, hahy uh-lahy, hahy uh-lahy ]
/ ˈhaɪ ˌlaɪ, ˈhaɪ əˌlaɪ, ˌhaɪ əˈlaɪ /

noun

a game resembling handball, played on a three-walled court between two, four, or six players who are equipped with a long, curved wicker basket, or cesta, strapped to the wrist for catching and throwing a small, hard ball against the front wall.
Compare cancha, fronton.

Origin of jai alai

1905–10; < Spanish < Basque, equivalent to jai game + alai merry

Words nearby jai alai

British Dictionary definitions for jai alai

jai alai
/ (ˈhaɪ ˈlaɪ, ˈhaɪ əˌlaɪ, ˌhaɪ əˈlaɪ) /

noun

a version of pelota played by two or four players

Word Origin for jai alai

via Spanish from Basque, from jai game, festival + alai merry