pelote

ball (of wool or thread)

noun puh-LOT Rare

Also means

pincushion

Usage Note

Pelote most commonly refers to a ball of yarn or thread (une pelote de laine), central to knitting vocabulary. It also names a small stuffed cushion for holding pins (pelote à épingles). The Basque sport pelote basque (Basque ball game) shares the same root. The verb peloter and noun pelotage have informal meanings unrelated to knitting.

Examples

"Elle dévide une pelote de laine bleue."

Natural Translation

She unwinds a ball of blue wool.

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