/ten"is/ , n.
a game played on a rectangular court by two players or two pairs of players equipped with rackets, in which a ball is driven back and forth over a low net that divides the court in half. Cf. lawn tennis . See illus. under racket 2 .
[ 1350-1400; ME tenetz, ten ( e ) ys tenir to hold, take, receive, appar. used as a server's call ]