racket

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a loud and disturbing noise
  2. noun an illegal enterprise (such as extortion or fraud or drug peddling or prostitution) carried on for profit
  3. noun the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience

Etymology

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”).

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