pelt
C1 (Low Frequency)Informal (when describing weather/movement); Formal/Specialist (noun for animal skin).
Definition
Meaning
To throw things repeatedly and forcefully at someone or something; also, the skin of an animal with fur or hair still on it.
To move or run very fast; (of rain) to fall very heavily.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb sense of throwing is often violent or aggressive. The noun sense is neutral but specific to the fur/hide trade. The "rain" and "run" senses are informal idioms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use all meanings. The informal verb sense "to move fast" is slightly more common in UK English (e.g., 'He was pelting down the road').
Connotations
Identical. Both can use 'pelt' humorously for heavy rain.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both, though the noun may be slightly more common in AmE due to historical fur trade contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
pelt [sb/sth] with [sth]pelt [sth] at [sb/sth][rain] pelts down[sb] pelts along/downVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(at) full pelt = at top speed”
- “rain is pelting down”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in the fur/leather industry ('a beaver pelt').
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or anthropological texts.
Everyday
Informal for heavy rain or running fast.
Technical
Specific term in taxidermy, furriery, and leathercraft.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The protesters began to pelt the police van with eggs.
- It's absolutely pelting down; take an umbrella.
- He pelted down the high street to catch the bus.
American English
- The kids pelted the old barn with snowballs.
- Hail was pelting the roof all night.
- She pelted across the field when she saw the dog.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children pelted each other with snow.
- The trapper sold the fox pelt at the market.
- Demonstrators pelted the politician's car with rotten fruit.
- We had to wait inside because the rain was pelting down.
- The company was criticised for sourcing pelts from unregulated farms.
- He set off at a full pelt, desperate to deliver the message in time.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a heavy rain PELTing your skin like tiny thrown stones.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE'S ATTACK: Heavy rain is conceptualized as projectiles attacking surfaces.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'шкура' (which is broader). 'Pelt' specifically implies fur/hair is attached.
- The verb 'to pelt' is not 'месить' (to knead) but 'забрасывать/швырять'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pelt' for a single throw (it implies repetition).
- Confusing 'pelt' (skin with fur) with 'leather' (processed skin without fur).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'pelt' CORRECTLY as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a low-frequency (C1) word. The verb is informal, and the noun is specialist.
'Skin' is the most general. 'Hide' typically refers to the skin of a large animal (e.g., cow). 'Pelt' specifically refers to the skin of a fur-bearing animal WITH the fur/hair still attached.
Rarely. As a verb, it almost always implies repeated, rapid throwing. You 'pelt someone with stones' (many), not 'pelt a stone at someone'.
It's an idiom meaning 'at maximum speed or effort'. E.g., 'The engine was running at full pelt.'