the small cape attached to a stick used by the matador during the final stages of a bullfight
Word origin
Spanish: small mule, crutch, from mulamule1
muleta in American English
(muːˈleitə, -ˈletə)
noun
a red cloth similar to but smaller than a capa and manipulated by a stick set into one of the three holes in or near the center, for use by a matador in guiding the course of the bull's attack in the stage ofthe fight preparatory to the kill
Word origin
[1830–40; ‹ Sp: prop, support, muleta, dim. of mula (fem.) mule1]