jai alai

See also: jai-alai and jaï-alaï

English

Jai alai play in progress

Etymology

From Spanish, from Basque jai (“festival”) + alai (“merry”), coined by 19th century writer Serafín Baroja in order to replace the non-native name pilota. However, although jai alai is composed of Basque words, it is not the name actually used in Basque.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaɪlaɪ/, /ˈhaɪəlaɪ/, /haɪəˈlaɪ/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪlaɪ, -aɪ

Noun

jai alai

1. a Basque ball game in which the players propel the ball using a long basket attached to the wrist

Translations

sport

• Basque: zesta-punta, pilota
• Catalan: cesta punta (ca) f
• French: jaï-alaï (fr) m
• Spanish: jai alai m; pelota vasca (es) f

Cebuano

Etymology

From English jai alai, from Spanish, from Basque jai (“festival”) + alai (“merry”).

Noun

jai alai

1. jai alai
2. an illegal lottery based on the scores of jai alai games