Chukkas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A segment of gameplay in polo that lasts for seven minutes is known for its time-bounded nature, representing a distinct phase of competition where teams aim to score goals
2. In the context of polo, this term identifies a specific duration of play, approximately seven minutes long, in which players strive to achieve points against each other
3. A fixed portion of a polo match that spans about seven minutes during which teams compete to score

Etymology: "Chukkas" is the plural of "chukka," the seven-minute period of play in a polo match. The singular form is the one whose history matters, and it comes from Hindi "cukkā," which in turn is borrowed from Sanskrit "cakra," meaning "wheel" or "circle." The sense of a round or circuit is what carried over: a chukka is a round of play, and the same idea of a bounded turn or circuit underlies the term. Because a polo match is divided into several of these rounds, English speakers adopted the word for the periods themselves. The plural "chukkas" simply counts the number of such rounds in a game, so a standard match is usually described as having several chukkas.

Synonyms: periods, halves, quarters, segments, rounds