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

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

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

Soutar, running around, breathing hard, scored his points to the dedans and grille, made his best fight in the seventh game, then lost three games in succession, the match, and the title.

From Time Magazine Archive

This may be analyzed as follows: root aouen, water; prefix at, il y a quelque chose là dedans; ataouen, se baigner; from which comes the form ataouensere.

From The Myths of the New World A Treatise on the Symbolism and Mythology of the Red Race of America by Brinton, Daniel Garrison