/peest/ , n.
1. a track or trail, as a downhill ski run or a spoor made by a wild animal.
2. (in fencing) a regulation-size strip, usually 2 meters wide and 14 meters long, on which fencers compete.
[ 1720-30; pista, pesta, n. deriv. of pestare to pound, crush pi ( n ) sere; cf. PESTLE ]