padel

noun

pa·​del ˈpa-dᵊl  pə-ˈdel 

: a sport played by two pairs of players using short-handled paddles and a ball similar to a tennis ball on a court divided by a net and enclosed by walls made of tempered glass and metal caging against which players may hit the ball

Padel started in Mexico about 50 years ago and is typically played in doubles. The major difference is that the courts—smaller than tennis—are surrounded by mesh or glass walls that players use to bounce balls off of …

—Nadia Lopez

I soon learn that padel is a combination of tennis and squash, but easier because it's played on a smaller court and serving is underhand, and it tends to be a slower speed game than tennis. The racket is similar to the one used for pickleball, and the scoring is identical to tennis …

—Emily Zemler

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish pádel, borrowed from English paddle entry 1

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined above