Thursday, August 5, 2010
A racket of racquets
Thwock. With the opening of the Rogers Cup tennis championship tomorrow, there will be a racket of racquets at York University. The implement used by tennis players got its name from an Arabic word, rahet (the palm of the hand), the ball originally being batted around with the hand. No doubt having one's hands bruised to a pulp quickly lost its charm, so the stringed bat was invented. The other racket, designating a din or uproar, or also a scam, is, alas, of undetermined origin.
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About Me
- Katherine Barber
- Canada's Word Lady, Katherine Barber is an expert on the English language and a frequent guest on radio and television. She was Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Her witty and informative talks on the stories behind our words are very popular. Contact her at wordlady.barber@gmail.com to book her for speaking engagements; she can tailor her talks to almost any subject. She is also available as an expert witness for lawsuits.
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