Pall Mall
Preserved but no longer current.
This fine thoroughfare in the West End of London has been so called since the early 18th century because it is the place where formerly the game of Palle malle (Ital. palla, ball, magha, mallet) was played.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Pall Mall” mean?
This fine thoroughfare in the West End of London has been so called since the early 18th century because it is the place where formerly the game of Palle malle (Ital. palla, ball, magha, mallet) was played.
Is “Pall Mall” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.