pétanque
/pəˈtaŋk
/ /petɑ̃k/noun [mass noun]
A game similar to boules played chiefly in Provence.The image of Gitanes-puffing, beret-clad Monsieurs enjoying a game of pétanque in the Provençal sunshine is about as idiosyncratically-French as it gets....
- During our lunch we try a game of pétanque with some stones that were lying around.
- Close to the hotel there is the Place des Lices, where the village men still play pétanque each afternoon.
Origin
French, from Provençal pèd tanco, literally 'foot fixed (to the ground)', describing the start position.