dedans

[duh-dahn]

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.

dedans

/ dədɑ̃ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dedans¹

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.))

Word History and Origins

Origin of dedans¹

literally: interior

Example Sentences

“Et cela doit signifier,” said she, “qu’il y aura là dedans un cadeau pour moi, et peut-être pour vous aussi, mademoiselle. Monsieur a parlé de vous: il m’a demandé le nom de ma gouvernante, et si elle n’était pas une petite personne, assez mince et un peu pâle. J’ai dit qu’oui: car c’est vrai, n’est-ce pas, mademoiselle?”

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Instead, perhaps the Association should have questioned the probability of him hitting the dedans at that very moment, which was quite unlikely and might have raised concerns that someone had manipulated its movement intentionally.

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

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It was difficult to see with the naked eye, of course, but my sensors told me that the ball had struck the dedans within 3 or 4 microns.

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A single dynamic target, which the player serving the ball has to defend at all times, is called the dedans.

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