Word: pelt Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Late Middle English pelt, pelte; further origin uncertain, probably a variant of Late Middle English pilten (“to push, thrust; to strike; to cast down, humble; to incite, induce; to place, put; to extend, reach forward with”) [and other forms], possibly from Old English *pyltan, from Late Latin *pultiare, from Latin pultāre (“to beat, knock, strike”), the frequentative of pellere, the present active infinitive of pellō (“to drive, impel, propel, push; to hurl; to banish, eject, expel, thrust out; to beat, strike; to set in motion”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pel- (“to beat; to drive, push”). The noun is derived from the verb. Pronunciation: /pɛlt/ 1. To bombard (someone or something) with missiles. Labels: transitive Example: The children are pelting each other with snowballs. Example: They pelted the attacking army with bullets. 2. To force (someone or something) to move using blows or the throwing of missiles. Labels: transitive Example: […] Martin survived […] to receive absolution from the very priest, whom, precisely on that day three years, he had assisted to pelt out of the hamlet of Morgenbrodt. Example: Presently, sweetened by distance, would be heard the wild weird song of lads and lasses, driving or rather pelting, through the gloaming their sheep and goats; […] 3. Of a number of small objects (such as raindrops), or the sun's rays: to beat down or fall on (someone or something) in a shower. Labels: transitive Example: The chiding billovv ſeemes to pelt the cloudes, / The vvinde ſhak'd ſurge, vvith high and monſtrous mayne, / Seemes to caſt vvater, on the burning Beare, […] Example: Ile ſtand this ſtorm of hail though the ſtones pelt me. 4. Chiefly followed by at: to (continuously) throw (missiles) at. Labels: transitive Example: The children pelted apples at us. Example: [I]n his Paroxyſms, as he vvalked the Streets, he vvould have his Pockets loaden vvith Stones, to pelt at the Signs. 5. To repeatedly beat or hit (someone or something). Labels: dialectal, transitive 6. To assail (someone) with harsh words in speech or writing; to abuse, to insult. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: I have […] had the honour to be pelted with several epistles to expostulate with me on that subject. Example: They don't knovv hovv to go about their abuſe. VVho vvill read a five ſhilling book againſt me? No, Sir, if they had vvit, they ſhould have kept pelting me vvith pamphlets. 7. Especially of hailstones, rain, or snow: to beat down or fall forcefully or heavily; to rain down. Labels: intransitive, transitive Example: It’s pelting down out there! Example: Accurſt be he that firſt inuented war, / They knew not, ah, they knew not ſimple men, / How thoſe were hit by pelting Cannon ſhot, / Stand ſtaggering like a quiuering Aſpen leafe, / Fearing the force of Boreas boiſtrous blaſts. 8. To move rapidly, especially in or on a conveyance. Labels: figuratively, intransitive, transitive Example: I pelted across to where my family was sitting. Example: The bus went pelting down the hill. 9. Chiefly followed by at: to bombard someone or something with missiles continuously. Labels: also, archaic, figuratively, intransitive, transitive Example: The Biſhop, and the Duke of Gloſters men, / Forbidden late to carry any VVeapon, / Haue fill'd their Pockets full of peeble ſtones; / And banding themſelues in contrary parts, / Doe pelt ſo faſt at one anothers Pate. Example: [T]heſe light armed refuters vvould have don pelting at thir three lines utterd vvith a ſage delivery of no reaſon, but an impotent and vvors then Bonner-like cenſure, […] 10. To throw out harsh words; to show anger. Labels: intransitive, obsolete, transitive Example: [S]he [the church] holdeth the veritie of his bodie [i.e., Jesus's body in the Eucharist]: ſhe pelteth not vvith God, denying this to be his body, bicauſe ſhe is cōmaunded to do this in remembrãce of hym: but ſhe doth beſt remembre hym, vvhen ſhe hath the bodie vvhich ſuffered, before her. Example: Another ſmotherd, ſeemes to pelt and ſvveare, / And in their rage ſuch ſignes of rage they beare, […]