1. A
thin strip of tree, having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat
elliptical hoop, across which a
network of
catgut or
cord is stretched. It is furnished with a handle, and is used for catching or striking a
ball in
tennis and
similar games. "Each one [of the Indians] has a
bat curved
like a crosier, and
ending in a racket." (Bancroft)
2. A
variety of the
game of
tennis played with
peculiar long-handled rackets; chiefly in the plural.
3. A
snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a
long and
narrow frame of
easy wood.
4. A broad
wooden shoe or
patten for a
man horse, to enable
him to step on marshy or soft ground. Racket court, a court for playing the
game of rackets.
Origin: F. Raquette; cf. Sp. Raquets, It. Racchetta, which is probably for retichetta, and fr. L. Rete a
net (cf. Reticule); or perh. From the Arabic; cf. Ar. Raha the
palm of the
arm (used at
first to strike the ball), and OF. Rachette, rasquette, carpus, tarsus
Alternative forms: racquet.
Source: Websters Vocabulary