dedans

American  

[duh-dahn] / dəˈdɑ̃ /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

plural

dedans

1. a netted winning opening of rectangular shape at the service side of the court.

2. the body of spectators behind this opening at a court-tennis match.

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dedans British  

/ dədɑ̃ /

noun

1. real tennis the open gallery at the server's end of the court

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Etymology

Origin of dedans

1700–10; < French: (the) inside, Middle French (adv. and preposition), Old French dedenz, equivalent to de of (< Latin dē ) + denz in (< Late Latin deintus, equivalent to Latin dē- de- + intus inside (adv.))

Example Sentences

The ball rocketed through the air toward Basto’s side of the court, right into the glowing dedans!

From Slate • Aug. 27, 2018

Hitting the dedans is as rare as shooting a hole-in-one in golf, and worth considerably more money to the victor.

From Slate • Aug. 27, 2018

Any ball that hits the dedans instantly ends not just the point, but the entire match.

From Slate • Aug. 27, 2018

Courts are 110 ft. long, 38 ft. wide, with a net-covered recess behind the server's court called a dedans, in which the spectators sit.

From Time Magazine Archive

He kissed Marguerite's hand, and went out to explore the corridor, whistling the refrain of an old song: "Cil qui mieux battit la muraille  N'entra pas dedans le chasteau."

From Marguerite de Valois by Dumas père, Alexandre