tourney

[ toor-nee, tur- ]

noun

, plural tour·neys.

1. a tournament.

verb (used without object)

, tour·neyed, tour·ney·ing.

1. to contend or engage in a tournament.

tourney

/ ˈtʊənɪ; ˈtɔː- /

noun

1. a knightly tournament

verb

1. intr to engage in a tourney

Derived Forms

• ˈtourneyer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tourney¹

1300–50; (v.) Middle English tourneyen < Old French torneier < Vulgar Latin *tornidiāre to wheel, keep turning; (noun) Middle English tourneie < Old French tournei, derivative of tourneier. See turn

Word History and Origins

Origin of tourney¹

C13: from Old French torneier, from Vulgar Latin tornidiāre (unattested) to turn constantly, from Latin tornāre to turn (in a lathe); see tournament

Example Sentences

When Mike Davis replaced Bob Knight, removed after 29 years at Indiana, he made the national title game in his second year — then didn’t reach the tourney’s second weekend in the next four years and was let go.

From Washington Post

Certainly the Huskies are an altogether different challenge than any team Arizona has faced in the tourney so far.

From FiveThirtyEight

Possibility seems so abundant in a women’s field of 64 teams and a men’s tourney of 68.

From Washington Post

That could spell trouble for the Big 12 trio of West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Texas, who are all outside the top 25 as the tourney begins.

From FiveThirtyEight

That’s particularly frustrating when taking one or the other would have lowered anxiety about a tourney berth headed into Thursday’s coin flip against the Spartans.

From Washington Post

The U.S. will need more offensive firepower to make a deep run in the tourney.

From The Daily Beast

While fans of snubbed teams will be furious, or dispirited, or both, Wellman will crush in the aftermath of Tourney selection.

From The Daily Beast

The Cougars pour in 84.2 points per game, more than any other team in the tourney.

From The Daily Beast

They became just the seventh 15 seed in tourney history to win their first-round matchup.

From The Daily Beast

Forth went the messengers "crying the tourney," till their mules were dust-covered and their voices cracked.

From Project Gutenberg

All the knights swore that he had outdone all the cavaliers of the tourney, and must receive the chief prize.

From Project Gutenberg

They have come in the spirit that brought their sisters of old to watch true knights battle in the tourney.

From Project Gutenberg

In Welsh tru means a twisting or turning, and this root is at the base of tourney and tournament.

From Project Gutenberg

The tourney does not open till noon; my arms are in good condition and my horse is eating his provender.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• tournament