Tournament
/ˈtʊərn.mənt/noun
A sporting competition or series of contests, especially in which many competitors take part.
Did you know?In medieval French, a tournoi was literally a “turning” of knights in mock combat, from the same root that gives English turn, torque, and tornado-like spinning force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ter-
“to turn, twist”
Latin
Latin
tornāre
“to turn on a lathe, shape by turning”
Old French
Old French
tornei / torneiement
“a joust or mock combat involving knights turning and wheeling about”
Middle English
English
turnement / tournement
“a medieval knightly contest”
Modern English
English
tournament
“a competitive sporting event or contest series”