| racket | 1. A thin strip of wood, having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat elliptical hoop, across which a network of catgut or cord is stretched. It is furnished with a handle, and is used for catching or striking a ball in tennis and similar games. "Each one [of the Indians] has a bat curved like a crosier, and ending in a racket." (Bancroft) 2. A variety of the game of tennis played with peculiar long-handled rackets; chiefly in the plural. 3. A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood. 4. A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man horse, to enable him to step on marshy or soft ground. Racket court, a court for playing the game of rackets. Origin: F. Raquette; cf. Sp. Raquets, It. Racchetta, which is perhaps for retichetta, and fr. L. Rete a net (cf. Reticule); or perh. From the Arabic; cf. Ar. Raha the palm of the hand (used at first to strike the ball), and OF. Rachette, rasquette, carpus, tarsus Alternative forms: racquet. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| racket amputation | A circular or slightly oval amputation, in which a long incision is made in the axis of the limb. (05 Mar 2000) |
| racket nail | A broad flat thumbnail resulting from a congenital shorter and wider distal phalanx of the thumb. (05 Mar 2000) |
| racket-tall | <ornithology> Any one of several species of humming birds of the genus Steganura, having two of the tail feathers very long and racket-shaped. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| racket-talled | <zoology> Having long and spatulate, or racket-shaped, tail feathers. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |