pétanque

[ pey-tahngk; French pe-tahnk ]

noun
  1. a form of lawn bowling originating in France, usually played on rough ground using steel balls.

Origin of pétanque

1
1950–55; <French <Provençal foot (<Latin ped-, stem of pēs) + tanco post, stake (derivative of tancar to close, bar <Vulgar Latin *stanticāre;see stanch1); so called because the feet are to be planted firmly on the ground, as if staked, when the ball is released

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British Dictionary definitions for pétanque

pétanque

/ French (petɑ̃k) /


noun
  1. another name, esp in the South of France, for boules

Origin of pétanque

1
from Provençal pèd tanco foot fixed (to the ground)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012