pelt

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpelt 

1

: a usually undressed skin with its hair, wool, or fur

a sheep's pelt

2

: a skin stripped of hair or wool for tanning

pelt

2 of 4

verb (1)

pelted; pelting; pelts

transitive verb

: to strip off the skin or pelt of (an animal)

pelt

3 of 4

verb (2)

pelted; pelting; pelts

transitive verb

1

a

: to strike with a succession of blows or missiles

pelted him with stones

b

: to assail vigorously or persistently

pelted her with accusations

2

: hurl, throw

pelted snowballs at them

3

: to beat or dash repeatedly against

hailstones pelting the roof

intransitive verb

1

: to deliver a succession of blows or missiles

2

: to beat incessantly

3

: to move rapidly and vigorously : hurry

pelter noun

pelt

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

: blow, whack

2

chiefly British : a rapid pace : speed

—usually used in the phrase full pelt

A friend still has the three lines up his legs where he ran full pelt into a barbed wire fence.

—John Woodhouse

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• fur
• leather
• hide
• beaver
• seal
• sheep

Verb (2)

• scurry
• race
• rush
• hurry
• speed
• fly
• trot
• chase
• drive
• travel
• zip
• jump
• run
• dart
• blow
• scuttle
• scoot
• tear
• ram
• hare
• rip
• hurl
• dash

Noun (2)

• blow
• thump
• slap
• punch
• thud
• hit
• pound
• swipe
• knock
• whack
• stroke
• lick
• smack
• poke
• bang
• beat
• spank
• slam
• lash

Examples of pelt in a Sentence

Noun (1)

caught beavers and sold the pelts to fur traders

Verb (2)

pelted away when the cops arrived

pelted snowballs at each other while waiting for the bus

pelted the other kids with pebbles

Noun (2)

gave the dog a sharp pelt on the nose with her rolled up newspaper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

When a motorcade of DHS agents was executing a search warrant on the property, a massive gathering of protesters waving Mexican flags tried to intercept a part of the convoy by pelting some of the vehicles with rocks and shattering windshields in the process. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2025

Against a backdrop of corporatized Pride Month mega-events that pelt you with free rainbow canteens and bad music, this was much more authentic and communal. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2025

Noun

Only a reindeer pelt separates you from the cold slab below. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

In the United States, it is estimated that 100,000 wolves were killed for their pelts each year between 1870 and 1877, according to the International Wolf Center. —Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 9 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English, probably from pelett animal skin, from Anglo-French pelette — more at peltry

Verb (2)

Middle English

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1568, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pelt

• belt
• celt
• dealt
• dwelt
• felt
• knelt
• melt
• smelt
• spelt
• veldt
• welt
• heartfelt

Kids Definition

pelt

1 of 2 noun

ˈpelt 

: a usually unfinished skin with its hair, wool, or fur

pelt

2 of 2 verb

1

: to strike with a series of blows, missiles, or words

2

: hurl sense 1, throw

3

: to beat against again and again

4

: to move quickly

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pelt "skin and attached fur of an animal"

Verb

Middle English pelten "to hit with a series of blows, pelt"