Cesta

/ˈsɛstə/ noun

Definition

A wicker scoop or basket strapped to the arm, used in the sport of jai alai to catch and throw the ball.

Etymology

From Spanish cesta, meaning 'basket,' derived from Latin cista ('box' or 'basket'). The term entered English through the sport of jai alai, which developed in the Basque region of Spain.

Kelly Says

Jai alai players can hurl a ball at speeds over 100 mph using a cesta—watching one in slow motion is mesmerizing, and it's one of the few words English borrowed from the Basque language, which is completely unrelated to Spanish or any other European language.

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