pall-mall

views updated May 14 2018

pall-mall †mallet used in the game (also so called) in which a ball was driven through an iron ring XVI; †alley in which this was played, (hence) name of an alley in London XVII, now Pall Mall. — F. †pal(le) mail(le) — It. pallamaglio, f. palla ball + maglio mallet.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

Pall Mall

views updated May 21 2018

Pall Mall a street in London built on the site of an alley for playing pall-mall, a 16th- and 17th-century game in which a boxwood ball was driven through an iron ring suspended at the end of a long alley.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

Pall Mall

All Sources -
Updated Aug 24 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like