I. noun
also rac·quet ˈrakə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French raquette, from Arabic rāḥah palm of the hand
1.
a. : a light bat consisting of a catgut, nylon, or formerly, cord netting stretched in a somewhat oval open frame with handle attached used for striking the ball in tennis and in similar games
b. : a small round paddle with a squat handle used in table tennis
2. usually racquets plural but singular in construction : a game for two or four played with ball and racket on a four-walled court — compare squash racquets
3.
a. : snowshoe
b. : a broad wooden shoe for a man or horse for walking on soft ground
[s]racket.jpg[/s] [
racket 1: A tennis, B racquetball, C badminton
]
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
obsolete : to strike with or as if with a racket : bandy
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably of imitative origin
1.
a. : confused clattering noise
the racket of the lunchroom
racket of a street repair gang
b. : noisy, disturbing, or objectionable talk or activity : clamor
made such a racket that she couldn't nap
the dogs set up a terrific racket
2.
a. : social whirl or excitement : reveling, merrymaking
b. : a large noisy party
used to give at least one racket a year
c. : the strain of exciting or trying experiences or ordeals — used with the
getting too old to stand the racket
3.
a. : a fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity
to him everything was a racket — God, education, radio, marriage, children, Communism, astronomy … osteopathy, Hollywood — Time
sees through pompous racket of the publicity campaign — Hans Meyerhoff
fashion is a racket to sell clothes — New Yorker
b. : a usually illegitimate enterprise or activity that is made workable by coercion, bribery, or intimidation
narcotics racket
numbers racket
officials consorting with mobsters, protecting the rackets and getting in return a share of the take — New York Times
c. : a system of obtaining money or other advantage illegally, fraudulently, or undeservedly usually with the outward consent of the victims
the fortune-telling racket
d. : an easy and lucrative means of livelihood
e. slang : occupation , business
Synonyms: see din
IV. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to engage in active social life or pleasure seeking — used usually with about or around
woman of the type often referred to as “gallant” mostly because she's done more than her share of racketing around — New Yorker
racketed round in my car, had no aim or ambition — G.W.Brace
2. : to move with or make a racket
racketing along in bus or train — K.W.Slifer
a machine gun would start racketing in the jungle — Norman Mailer