(ˈ)pel|mel or (ˈ)pal|mal or (ˈ)pȯl|mȯl also (ˈ)päl|mäl, Brit (ˈ)pel|mel or (ˈ)pal|mal noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French pallemaille, from Italian pallamaglio, from palla ball (of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ) + maglio mallet, from Latin malleus — more at ball , maul
1. obsolete : a mallet used to strike a ball especially as used in the game of pall-mall
2.
a. : a game once common in Italy, France, and Scotland and in England in the 17th century in which a wooden ball about four inches in diameter is driven with a mallet
b. : the alley in which it is played