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

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.

From Slate • Aug. 27, 2018

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

From Slate • Aug. 27, 2018

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.

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

It was to the church pour prier dedans that I went, not to Mr. Church.

From Two Summers in Guyenne by Barker, Edward Harrison