jai alai

/ˈhaɪlaɪ//ˈhaɪəlaɪ//haɪəˈlaɪ/

noun

a Basque ball game in which the players propel the ball using a long basket attached to the wrist

Similar
pelota
OriginBasque jai →
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Meanings

noun
  1. a Basque ball game in which the players propel the ball using a long basket attached to the wrist

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna Basque or Spanish game played in a court with a ball and a wickerwork racket

Similar
pelota
Broader
court game
Also see
pelota

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Basquejai“festival”
  2. Englishjai alai

From Spanish, from Basque jai (“festival”) + alai (“merry”), coined by 19th century writer Serafín Baroja in order to replace the non-native name pilota. However, although jai alai is composed of Basque words, it is not the name actually used in Basque.

More words from Basque

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Basque zesta-punta, pilota
  • zesta-puntasport
  • pilotasport
Catalan cesta punta
  • cesta puntasport
French jaï-alaï
  • jaï-alaïsport
Spanish jai alai, pelota vasca
  • jai alaisport
  • pelota vascasport

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with jai alai

byimybuyhighywhyreplyjJulytryapplysupplyhieyeguyfidiflyskynearbykyspysi
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

jai alai. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jai%20alai

MLA

“jai alai.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jai%20alai. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “jai alai,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jai%20alai.

Source: jai alai on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.