French origin theory The first explanation is that the ancestral game was introduced to Britain from France during the 1660–1685 reign of Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland and was played under the name of ' (among other spellings, today usually pall-mall), derived ultimately from Latin words for 'ball and mallet' (the latter also found in the name of the earlier French game, '). This was the explanation given in the ninth edition of Encyclopædia Britannica, dated 1877.
french origin theory the first explanation is that the ancestral game was introduced to britain from france during the 1660–1685 reign of charles ii of england scotland and ireland and was played under the name of ' (among other spellings today usually pall-mall) derived ultimately from latin words for 'ball and mallet' (the latter also found in the name of the earlier french game ') this was the explanation given in the ninth edition of encyclopædia britannica dated 1877