from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tennis \Ten"nis\, n. [OE. tennes, tenies, tenyse; of uncertain
origin, perhaps fr. F. tenez hold or take it, fr. tenir to
hold (see {Tenable}).]
A play in which a ball is driven to and fro, or kept in
motion by striking it with a racket or with the open hand.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
His easy bow, his good stories, his style of dancing
and playing tennis, . . . were familiar to all London.
--Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
{Court tennis}, the old game of tennis as played within
walled courts of peculiar construction; -- distinguished
from {lawn tennis}.
{Lawn tennis}. See under {Lawn}, n.
{Tennis court}, a place or court for playing the game of
tennis. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]