I. ˈpelt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps back-formation from peltry — more at peltry
1.
a. : a usually undressed skin with its hair, wool, or fur
b. : a skin (as of a sheep or goat) stripped of hair or wool for tanning
2. : the human skin
3. : the dead body of a hawk's quarry
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to remove the skin or pelt from (an animal)
intransitive verb
: to remove the skin or pelt from animals
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English pelten
transitive verb
1.
a. : to strike with a succession of blows or missiles
the chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds — Shakespeare
boys … pelted the girls with green apples — Sherwood Anderson
b. : to assail repeatedly and usually forcefully with words : beset
pelting him with ridicule and vilification — Walter O'Meara
the crowd pelted him with questions while he slid from his saddle — Everybody's Magazine
2. : to drive by means of a succession of blows or missiles
lads … pelting through the gloaming their sheep and goats — Sir Richard Burton
3. : to throw a succession or stream of (as missiles)
the rout followed and pelted stones — Anthony Wood
4. : to fall upon or dash against with a succession of vigorous impacts
pelted the sides of houses like hailstones — R.A.Billington
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to deliver a succession of strokes or blows
the smith … pelting away at his hot iron — James Hogg
b. obsolete : to utter a succession of angry words
2. : to throw a succession of missiles
filled their pockets full of pebblestones and … pelt so fast at one another's pate — Shakespeare
3. : to fall or dash with a succession of vigorous impacts : beat incessantly
listening to the rain pelt and rattle on the tin roof — Marcia Davenport
4. : to move rapidly and vigorously : hurry
riding low … as hard as the mare could pelt — H.L.Davis
imagine the whole crowd pelting to the telephones — C.W.Morton
IV. noun
( -s )
1. : a blow with or as if with something thrown : whack
gave him … a good pelt on the head with his crutch — Tobias Smollett
2. dialect chiefly England : a fit of rage
3. : a rapid vigorous pace : speed
the tug going by, full pelt , down the river — Joseph Conrad
4. : a persistent falling or beating (as of rain) : a pelting storm
the swish and pelt of the rain were heard in pauses — D.C.Murray