from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pall-mall \Pall`-mall"\, n. [OF. palemail, It. pallamagio; palla
a ball (of German origin, akin to E. ball) + magio hammer,
fr. L. malleus. See 1st {Ball}, and {Mall} a beetle.]
A game formerly common in England, in which a wooden ball was
driven with a mallet through an elevated hoop or ring of
iron. The name was also given to the mallet used, to the
place where the game was played, and to the street, in
London, still called Pall Mall. [Written also {pail-mail} and
{pell-mell}.] --Sir K. Digby. --Evelyn.
[1913 Webster]