Pelt

[Slava]

I don't know what made me think of this word, but it's a nice little two-for-one deal. First we have the verb of pelting, as with rocks, questions, or rain. Then we have the good old skin of an animal.

The first one doesn't appear to have a well-documented etymology, but perhaps a professional could dig up more.

The second would seem to be related to peloton, the main clump of riders in a bicycle race. And to platoon. Both of which come from the French for a small pellet.

[Audiendus]

There is also the meaning of "run vigorously, hurry", which is clearly a development of the "bombard" sense, as it suggests feet rapidly striking the ground. "Belt" can be used in a similar way, though it tends to imply simply speed rather than percussiveness:

I pelted down the street as fast as I could.
The train belted through the countryside at 150 miles per hour.

[LukeJavan8]

I've never encountered "pelt" in the sense of to run.
But I can see how it could