piñata

See also: pinata

English
A piñata.

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Mexican Spanish piñata, from piña, from Latin pinea (“pinecone”), because its paper cover (on traditional making) resembles one. Alternatively from Spanish via Italian pignatta (“clay pot”),[1] from a Chinese custom allegedly introduced by Marco Polo.[2]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /pɪnˈjɑː.tə/, /pɪnˈjæ.tə/
    • Audio (Southern England)(file)

Noun

piñata (plural piñatas)

  1. (Latin American culture) A doll or other decorated container that is filled with candy and hit with a hammer or a stick by blindfolded children during birthday parties or other celebrations until the candy falls out.
  2. (figuratively) Something which is repeatedly hit or damaged over a period of time.
    • 2020 August 5, Drachinifel, 3:29 from the start, in The Battle of Jutland - Clash of the Titans - Part 2 (Jellicoe vs Scheer)‎, archived from the original on 12 September 2022:
      […] Wiesbaden, largely crippled, nevertheless refuses to sink for the moment, and will become something of a steel piñata for passing British capital ships over the next few hours whilst throwing the odd torpedo back in retaliation.

Translations

Verb

piñata (third-person singular simple present piñatas, present participle piñataing, simple past and past participle piñataed)

  1. To hit something or someone with sticks after having filled them with candy.
    • 2015 (November 20) "Zombie Broheims", episode 14 of Pig Goat Banana Cricket
      Cricket: "Don't pinata me!"

References
  1. “piñata”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
  2. Center for History and New Media (2019 March 15 (last accessed)) “Piñata [Object]”, in Children and Youth in History, Item #411‎: “Polo likely brought the idea to Italy, where by the 14th century it was associated with celebration of Lent, and acquired the Italian name pignatta or "fragile pot."”

Further reading

Anagrams

Spanish

Etymology

From piña, from Latin pinea (“pinecone”), because its paper cover (on traditional making) resembles one. Alternatively from the same source via Italian pignatta.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /piˈɲata/ [piˈɲa.t̪a]
  • Rhymes: -ata
  • Syllabification: pi‧ña‧ta

Noun

piñata f (plural piñatas)

  1. piñata (doll filled with candy)

Derived terms

Descendants
  • → Catalan: pinyata
  • → English: pinata, piñata
  • → Portuguese: pinhata

References
  1. “piñata”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

Further reading

Anagrams
  • pitaña
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