/pay tahngk"/ ; Fr. /pe tahonnk"/ , n.
a form of lawn bowling originating in France, usually played on rough ground using steel balls. Also called boule .
[ 1950-55; pé foot ( ped-, s. of pes ) + tanco post, stake (deriv. of tancar to close, bar stanticare; see STANCH 1 ); so called because the feet are to be planted firmly on the ground, as if staked, when the ball is released ]