paˈlæstral, paˈlestral, a.
(see prec.)
[f. prec. + -al1 (prob. through OF. or med.L.).]
Of or pertaining to the palæstra, or to wrestling or athletics; athletic.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 304 The feste and pleyes palestral At my vigile. 1513 Douglas æneis i. Pref. 174 The lusty gammys, and plais palustrale. Ibid. iii. iv. 136 Our fallowschip exerce palestrale play. 1827 Hone Every-day Bk. II. 1009 In the ‘Cornish hug’, Mr. Polwhele perceived the Greek palæstral attitudes finely revived. |
¶ App. misused for ‘palatial’.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxxv. 73 Imperiall wall, place palestrall, Of peirless pulcritud. |
So paˈlæstrian, -ˈestrian, (a) n., one who practised wrestling in the palæstra; (b) adj. = palæstral.
| 1599 R. Linche Anc. Fiction Q iv, The wrastlers, called also Palestrians. 1828 Webster, Palestrian, Palestric. |