Croquet

Croquet, an open-air game, in which two or more players endeavour to drive wooden balls, by means of long-handled mallets, through a series of arches set in the ground according to some pattern. The object of each player is to make the complete circle of six to ten hoops or arches; but during the course of the game he may have the progress of his ball retarded by his opponents, or assisted by his partners; and these friendly aids and hostile attacks constitute the chief interest of croquet. The game seems to be substantially a revival of the old game of Pall Mall, which gave its name to what is now the well-known London street, and to other places in England. Pall Mall, played with ball (Ital. palla) and mallet (Ital. maglia), came from France into England early in the 17th century, and died out in the 18th. Croquet (Fr. croquer, 'to crack') became a popular game about 1850, was the great summer social game during 1860-70, but was after about 1875 superseded by lawn-tennis, to revive about 1897. A croquet-ground should be a well-rolled level grass plat or lawn, not less than 30 yards long by 20 yards wide; a full-sized croquet-ground measures 40 yards by 30 yards.