E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Mall or Pall Mall (London).
From the Latin pellre mall’eo (to strike with a mallet or bat; so called because it was where the ancient game of pell-mall used to be played. Cotgrave says:—
1
“Pale malle is a game wherein a round box-ball is struck with a mallet through a high arch of iron. He that can do this most frequently wins.”
It was a fashionable game in the reign of Charles II., and the walk called the Mall was appropriated to it for the king and his court.
re mall’eo (to strike with a mallet or bat; so called because it was where the ancient game of pell-mall used to be played. Cotgrave says:—
