n. & v.
n. 1 a small compressed ball of paper, bread, etc. 2 a pill. 3 a a small mass of bones, feathers, etc. regurgitated by a bird of prey. b a small hard piece of animal, usu. rodent, excreta. 4 a a piece of small shot. b an imitation bullet for a toy gun.
v.tr. (pelleted, pelleting) 1 make into a pellet or pellets. 2 hit with (esp. paper) pellets. pelletize v.tr. (also -ise).
[ ME f. OF pelote f. L pila ball ]