Racket

//ˈɹækɪt// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A general-purpose, multiparadigm programming language descended from Scheme.
Noun
  1. 1
    An implement with a handle connected to a round frame strung with wire, sinew, or plastic cords, and used to hit a ball, such as in tennis or a shuttlecock in badminton. countable

    "He bought a new tennis racket two days ago."

  2. 2
    A loud noise.

    "Power tools work quickly, but they sure make a racket."

  3. 3
    an illegal enterprise (such as extortion or fraud or drug peddling or prostitution) carried on for profit wordnet
  4. 4
    A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood. Canada
  5. 5
    An illegal scheme for profit; a fraud or swindle; or both coinstantiated.

    "prostitution and gambling controlled by rackets"

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    a sports implement (usually consisting of a handle and an oval frame with a tightly interlaced network of strings) used to strike a ball (or shuttlecock) in various games wordnet
  2. 7
    A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man or horse, to allow walking on marshy or soft ground.
  3. 8
    Any industry or enterprise. informal

    "They dropped out of the acting racket in 1953 and soon took up writing."

  4. 9
    the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience wordnet
  5. 10
    A carouse; any reckless dissipation. dated, slang
  6. 11
    a loud and disturbing noise wordnet
  7. 12
    Something taking place considered as exciting, trying, unusual, etc. or as an ordeal. dated, slang
Verb
  1. 1
    To strike with, or as if with, a racket.

    "Poor man [is] racketed from one temptation to another."

  2. 2
    To make a clattering noise. intransitive
  3. 3
    hit (a ball) with a racket wordnet
  4. 4
    To be dissipated; to carouse. dated, intransitive
  5. 5
    make loud and annoying noises wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English raket, of uncertain origin. Possibly cognate with Middle French rachette, requette (“palm of the hand”). From Arabic رَاحَةْ اَلْيَد (rāḥat al-yad, “palm of the hand”). Alternatively, the term might be derived from Dutch raketsen instead, from Middle French rachasser (“to strike (the ball) back”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English raket, of uncertain origin. Possibly cognate with Middle French rachette, requette (“palm of the hand”). From Arabic رَاحَةْ اَلْيَد (rāḥat al-yad, “palm of the hand”). Alternatively, the term might be derived from Dutch raketsen instead, from Middle French rachasser (“to strike (the ball) back”).

Etymology 3

Attested since the 1500s, of unclear origin; possibly a metathesis of the dialectal term rattick (“to shake, rattle”).

Etymology 4

Attested since the 1500s, of unclear origin; possibly a metathesis of the dialectal term rattick (“to shake, rattle”).

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