pel|let

pel|let «PEHL iht», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a little ball, as of mud, paper, hail, snow, or medicine; pill: »

The pet rabbits ate little green pellets of dried grass, meal, and powdered milk.

2. a bullet, especially a spherical bullet intended to be fired by a shotgun or other gun without a rifled barrel: »

a pellet of birdshot.

3. a ball, usually of stone, used as a missile in the 1300's and 1400's.

4. the undigested and indigestible matter, such as bones, feathers, and fur, ejected from the crop by a hawk or other bird of prey.

–v.t.

1. to hit with pellets.

2. to form into pellets: »

Researchers are experimenting with a pelleted cattle feed made from newsprint, vitamins, and minerals (Wall Street Journal).

╂[< Old French pelote < Vulgar Latin pilotta (diminutive) < Latin pila ball]

–pel´let|er, noun.