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.
© Webster 1913.
Ten"nis, v. t.
To drive backward and forward, as a ball in playing tennis.
[R.]
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.