tlachtli

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Classical Nahuatl tlachtli.

Noun

tlachtli (usually uncountable, plural tlachtlis)

1. (sports, historical, uncountable) A ceremonial ball game once played by the Aztecs; evolved into the ulama game.
   • 2000, Phyllis Barkas Goldman & John Grigni, Monkeyshines on Ancient Cultures

     The object of tlachtli was to keep the rubber ball from touching the ground while trying to push it to the opponent's endline.

2. (sports, historical, countable) The high-walled court in which this game was played.

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

Compare Hopi tatsi (“ball”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɬatʃ.t͡ɬi]

Noun

tlachtli (inanimate)

1. (it is) a ritual sport in which two teams of players strike a solid rubber ball with the hips within a masonry ballcourt.
2. (it is) a ballcourt for the ritual practice of this sport.

Synonyms

• (ballgame): ōllamaliztli
• (ballcourt): ōllamalōyān, teōtlachtli

Derived terms

• teōtlachtli