Definition

Noun: 1. A fast-paced ball game: A sport of Basque origin, similar to a very fast and dangerous version of handball or squash, played on a three-walled court (frontón or cancha) with a hard ball and a long, curved wicker basket (cesta) strapped to the player's hand.

Usage

• As a subject:
• As an object:
• With modifiers:

Examples

Advanced Usage

• Cultural context: The term "jai alai" is of Basque origin, meaning "merry festival." While the modern professional game is often associated with Spain (particularly the Basque Country) and Latin America, its roots are specifically in the Basque region.
• As a spectacle: The term can be used to refer not just to the sport itself but also to the event or spectacle of a match.

Variants and Related Words

• Pelota: (noun) A more general term for a family of court games, including jai alai, played with a ball. Jai alai is a specific variant of pelota.
• Frontón: (noun) The court on which jai alai and other pelota games are played.
• Cesta: (noun) The long, curved wicker racket or basket used to catch and throw the ball in jai alai.
• Cesta punta: (noun) Another name for jai alai, emphasizing the use of the .

Synonyms

• Pelota (in its specific, fast variant)
• Cesta punta

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The term almost exclusively refers to the specific sport played with a and a hard ball on a three-walled court. It is not a generic term for any racket sport.
• No Phrasal Verbs or Idioms: As a specific proper noun for a sport, "jai alai" does not form phrasal verbs or common idioms in general English usage.

Noun

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