Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

         His easy bow, his good stories, his style of dancing
         and playing tennis, . . . were familiar to all London.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   {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.

Court tennis \Court" ten"nis\ (k?rt" t?n"n?s).
   See under {Tennis}.

Source : WordNet®

court tennis
     n : an ancient form of tennis played in a four-walled court
         [syn: {royal tennis}, {real tennis}]