corral

[ kuh-ral ]

noun

1. an enclosure or pen for horses, cattle, etc.
2. a circular enclosure formed by wagons during an encampment, as by covered wagons crossing the North American plains in the 19th century, for defense against attack.

verb (used with object)

, cor·ralled, cor·ral·ling.

1. to confine in or as if in a corral.
2. Informal.
   1. to seize; capture.
   2. to collect, gather, or garner:

      to corral votes.

3. to form (wagons) into a corral.

corral

/ kɒˈrɑːl /

noun

1. an enclosure for confining cattle or horses
2. (formerly) a defensive enclosure formed by a ring of covered wagons

verb

1. to drive into and confine in or as in a corral
2. informal.
   to capture

Word History and Origins

Origin of corral¹

1575–85; < Spanish < Late Latin *currāle enclosure for carts, equivalent to Latin curr ( us ) wagon, cart (derivative of currere to run) + -āle, neuter of -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of corral¹

C16: from Spanish, from Vulgar Latin currāle (unattested) area for vehicles, from Latin currus wagon, from currere to run

Example Sentences

When the ball bounced off the rim, he corralled it.

From Los Angeles Times

But the Suns corralled the loose ball, the last big moment in a 109-105 win that gave the Lakers their first loss of the season.

From Los Angeles Times

When someone did find their way into one of the street-wide corrals serving as a line, they were, for all intents and purposes, on their own in a sea of people.

From Salon

The punter couldn’t corral the loose ball and running back Hassan Haskins batted it out of the end zone to limit the damage to a safety.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the past few weeks, U.S. officials have corralled support from regional governments and held discussions with Lebanese politicians with the aim of convening parliament to choose a president.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• paddock