tennis

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 ]