Obs. Also 6 -esse. [f. prec. sb.]
1. trans. To toss to and fro like a ball at tennis. Also absol.
1565. W. Allen, in Fulke, Confut. Purg. (1577), 145. How fast they will tennesse one to an other in talke.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 652/2. These fowre garrisons issuing foorthe … will so drive him [the enemy] from one side to another, and tennis him amongest them, that he shall finde no where safe.
2. intr. To play tennis. Hence † Tennising vbl. sb., tennis-playing; also † Tenniser, a tennis-player.
a. 1475. Myrc’s Par. Pr., 11, note. Danseyng, cotteyng, bollyng, tenessyng, handball, fott ball, stoil ball & all manner other games.
1579. Rice, Invective agst. Vices, E iv b. Bowlyng, Dicyng, Cardyng, Tennesyng, with such like actes and deedes of the fleshe. Ibid., F j. Dicers, Bowlers, Carders,… Tenessers.
