noun
Uncommon
fives
fyvz
Fives (noun) means a ball game similar to squash, played by hitting a ball against a wall with a gloved hand. Example: “The school still has a fives court from the Victorian era.”
noun
1
A ball game similar to squash, played by hitting a ball against a wall with a gloved hand.
"Liza on her first visit to the school had greatly admired everything about it from the fives courts and the chapel to the plaster casts in the corridors and the photographs of cathedrals in the classrooms."
— Vladimir Nabokov (1957)
"The school still has a fives court from the Victorian era."
How to use fives
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional British handball-against-a-wall game, similar to squash.
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The school still has a _____ court from the Victorian era.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; possibly from the five fingers used to strike the ball.
Rhymes for fives
See all rhymes for fives →Frequently asked questions
What does “fives” mean?
The word “fives” means a ball game similar to squash, played by hitting a ball against a wall with a gloved hand. In plain terms, a traditional British handball-against-a-wall game, similar to squash.
How do you pronounce “fives”?
“Fives” is pronounced fyvz (/faɪvz/ in IPA).
How do you use “fives” in a sentence?
Here is “fives” used in a sentence: “The school still has a fives court from the Victorian era.”
What part of speech is “fives”?
“Fives” is a noun.
Is “fives” a common word?
“Fives” is an uncommon word in modern English.
