/peuh les"treuh/ , n. , pl. palestras, palestrae /-tree/ . Gk. Antiq.
a public place for training or exercise in wrestling or athletics.
Also, palaestra .
[ 1375-1425; late ME palestre palaestra a wrestling school, place of exercise palaístra, equiv. to palais-, var. s. of palaíein to wrestle + -tra fem. n. suffix of place ]