Racket
early 16th century: from French raquette (see rackets).
wiktionary
From Middle English raket. Possibly cognate with Middle French rachette, requette(“palm of the hand”). Possibly from Arabic رَاحَةْ اَلْيَد (rāḥat al-yad, “palm of the hand”), [1] although this is doubtful. [2] Instead, the term is more likely to be derived from Dutch raketsen, from Middle French rachasser(“to strike (the ball) back”). [3]
Attested since the 1500s, of unclear origin; possibly a metathesis of the dialectal term rattick(“rattle”). [4]
etymonline
racket (n.1)
"loud, disorderly, confusing noise," 1560s, probably imitative. Klein and Century Dictionary compare Gaelic racaid "noise, disturbance," but OED says this "is no doubt from Eng."
Meaning "dishonest activity" (1785) is perhaps an extended sense, from the notion of "something going on" or "noise or disturbance made to distract a pick-pocket's victim." Or it might be from racquet, via the notion of "a game," or from or reinforced by rack-rent "extortionate rent." There also was a verb racket "carry on eager or energetic action" (1753), and the gangster sense might be via the notion of "exciting and unusual." Weakened sense of "way of life, one's line of business" is by 1891.
racket (n.2)
"handled paddle or netted bat used in tennis, etc.;" see racquet.
