rack·et¹ / ˈrakit/ (also rac·quet) • n. a type of bat with a round or oval frame strung with catgut, nylon, etc., used esp. in tennis, badminton, and squash. ∎  a snowshoe resembling such a bat.rack·et² • n. 1. [in sing.] a loud unpleasant noise; a din: the kids were making a racket. ∎ archaic the noise and liveliness of fashionable society.2. inf. an illegal or dishonest scheme for obtaining money: a protection racket. ∎  a person's line of business or way of life: I'm in the insurance racket.• v. (rack·et·ed, rack·et·ing) [intr.] make a loud unpleasant noise: trains racketed by. ∎  (racket around) enjoy oneself socially; go in pursuit of pleasure or entertainment.DERIVATIVES: rack·et·y adj.

racket (Ger. Rackett). Renaissance woodwind instr., forerunner of bn., developed in Ger. in late 16th cent., when it was called Raggett. Had narrow cylindrical bore of 9 parallel channels drilled in wooden or ivory cylinder and connected alternately top and bottom. Existed in 4 types: ten., bass, quint bass, great bass. Ten. was 4½″ high, great bass just over 12″. During latter part of 17th cent., bass racket was redesigned, with wider expanding conical bore, coiled crook inserted at side, central bulbous bell, and new disposition of finger-holes. This instr., in effect a narrow-bore bn., is known as the baroque racket. Modern versions of both Renaissance and Baroque racket available, former with a plastic reed.

racket1 bat of network used in ball games; pl. game played with ball and rackets XVI; (N. Amer.) snow-shoe XVII. — F. raquette †palm of the hand, racket, snow-shoe — It. racchetta, f. Arab. rāhet palm of the hand.

racket2 disturbance, uproar XVI; social excitement XVIII; trying experience XIX; illicit scheme XX (U.S.). perh. imit. of clattering noise.
Hence racket vb., rackety XVIII.