Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - racket

1. n. (also racquet) 1 a bat with a round or oval frame strung with catgut, nylon, etc., used in tennis, squash, etc. 2 (in pl.) a ball game for two or four persons played with rackets in a plain four-walled court. 3 a snow shoe resembling a racket. Phrases and idioms racket-ball a small hard orig. kid-covered ball of cork and string. racket-press a press for keeping rackets taut and in shape. racket-tail a S. American humming-bird, Loddigesia mirabilis, with a racket-shaped tail. Etymology: F racquette f. It. racchetta f. Arab. raha palm of the hand 2. n. 1 a a disturbance; an uproar; a din. b social excitement; gaiety. 2 sl. a a scheme for obtaining money or attaining other ends by fraudulent and often violent means. b a dodge; a sly game. 3 colloq. an activity; a way of life; a line of business (starting up a new racket). Derivatives rackety adj. Etymology: 16th c.: perh. imit.