Meanings
plural palaestras · plural palaestrae · alternative US palestra · alternative dated palæstra · alternative palaistra
- historicalA public area in ancient Greece and Rome dedicated to the teaching and practice of wrestling and other sports; a wrestling school, a gymnasium.First known use 15th c.
Athenian culture flourished in externalities, the open air of the agora and the nudity of the palestra.
1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae - An arena for literal or figurative combat; a battlefield.First known use 15th c.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna public place in ancient Greece or Rome devoted to the training of wrestlers and other athletes
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekπαλαίστρα“wrestling school”
- Latinpalaestra
- Englishpalaestra
Borrowed from Latin palaestra, from Ancient Greek παλαίστρα (palaístra, “wrestling school”).
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek παλαίστρα
- παλαίστρα (palaístra)ancient wrestling area
Catalan palestra
- palestraancient wrestling area
Finnish palaistra
- palaistraancient wrestling area
French palestre
- palestreancient wrestling area
Italian palestra
- palestraancient wrestling area
Polish palestra
- palestraancient wrestling area
Portuguese palestra
- palestraancient wrestling area
Romanian palestră
- palestrăancient wrestling area
Spanish palestra
- palestraancient wrestling area
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
palaestra. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palaestra
“palaestra.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palaestra. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “palaestra,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palaestra.
Source: palaestra on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.