Why is it called a Let

this answer applies to tennis but I assume same origin

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070816223510AASLxze

Please answer my question faster please because I all most have ping pong torment 

be patient please... pingskills is not 24 hours online
they need to rest too ! they're not robots :D

I can answer the question.  It is based on tennis.  When the served ball first hits the net it is a "net", meaning the receiver does not have to attempt to hit the ball.  If the ball lands on the table, it is a "net" and the serve is played over.  If the ball doesn't hit the table, it is a "fault" and the server loses the point.  So the call should be net when it hits the net and "let" if it lands on the table, or a "fault" if it does not.  In tennis there are usually two distinct calls, a "net" when the ball hits the net, then a" let" or a" fault" based on where the ball lands.

Of course in table tennis by the time a serve is called it may have already done both.

I hope this helps.

Phil

'Let' originates from the French word for net which is 'filet'.

Ji-Soo, I knew we could count on you!

Apparently there is another possibility...

"According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word "let", defined as "hindrance", is derived from the Middle English verb "letten" to hinder, the noun form being "lette". This, in turn, is derived from the Old English word "lettan", to hinder. Ultimately, the root word is "loet", to slow. Nothing to do with the French language!”

I guess these things are usually not very clear cut!

Come on Ji-Soo, just when I thought you had given us something definitive...

Sorry Coach, just trying to convey all the facts!  ;)

If it's worth anything, I lean towards the first explanation given that we already know "love" is from the french "l'oeuf" (the egg) so obviously the game of tennis was heavily influenced by french terminology.

Thnx for the answers. Though it doesnt make sense to use let instead of net in serving...