PALL-MALL

[pall-mall] n [MF pallemaille, fr. It pallamaglio, fr. palla ball (of Gmc origin; akin to OHG balla ball) + maglio mallet, fr. L malleus--more at ball, maul] (1598): a 17th century game in which each player attempts to drive a wooden ball with a mallet down an alley and through a raised ring in as few strokes as possible; also: the alley in which it is played