PELOTON

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 19 July 2012

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Word of the Day:

PELOTON  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) the main body or field of riders in a bicycle race
2. (n.) a small body of soldiers; a platoon (rare)
3. (n.) a type of colorful, ornamental Bohemian glassware; also called peloton glass (rare)

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Current theme:

Summer Olympics

Epilogue:

PELOTONS, or tightly-packed groups of riders, figure prominently in most longer bicycle races.  Many riders will “bunch” together, saving energy by “drafting” behind one another, and one or more riders will eventually aim for a “break” or “breakaway.”  The word is from French and literally means “little ball” or “pellet.”  The word PLATOON is from the same source, and, indeed, the word PELOTON was once used as a synonym for a small body of soldiers.

Cycling is another sport — along with fencing, some swimming events, and some track & field events — that has been included in every modern Summer Olympic Games, from 1896 to the present.

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