n. 1. A device consisting of an oval or circular frame with a tight interlaced network of strings and a handle, used to strike a ball or shuttlecock in various games. 2. A wooden paddle, as one used in table tennis. 3. A snowshoe. [Middle English raket, a kind of handball, from Old French rachette, palm of the hand, racket, from Medieval Latin rascheta, palm, from Arabic rāḥat (al-yad), palm (of the hand), bound form of rāḥa; see rḥ in the Appendix of Semitic roots.] (click for a larger image) racket1top: tennis and racquetball rackets bottom: squash racket |
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