Definition of lawn tennis

The word "lawn tennis" originated in the mid-19th century in England. It referred to a popular outdoor sport that was played on lawns instead of indoor courts. The game, which is now known as tennis, was played with a net, a racket, and a soft tennis ball that could be hit back and forth across the net. The term "tennis" was coined by Harry Gem, a doctor, and Augurio Perera, a Spanish businessman, who founded the world's first tennis club, the Pelota Club, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, in 1872. They named the sport "tennis" after the French word "jeu de paume," which translates to "game of the palm," as the sport was believed to have originated from the French royal pastime of indoor handball. However, the term "lawn tennis" remained in use for some time, especially in the United States, due to the popularity of the game on grass courts. It wasn't until the end of the 19th century that the term "tennis" became more commonly used to describe the sport played both indoors and outdoors. Today, tennis is played on various surfaces, including grass, clay, hard courts, and carpet, but the game is still commonly referred to as tennis, regardless of the playing surface. The roots of the sport and the reasons behind its names may have changed over time, but the popularity of tennis continues to thrive around the world.