pelt·ing I. \ˈpeltiŋ, -tēŋ\adjective Etymology: probably from English dialect palt, pelt piece of coarse cloth, trash + English -ing — more at paltry archaic: paltry, insignificant < flourishing cities … dwindled into pelting villages — R.C.Trench > II. adjective Etymology: from present participle of pelt (III) chiefly dialect: raging, furious