SPORT (a contracted or shortened

See also:

• FORM (Lat. forma)

form of "disport," to amuse, divert oneself, O. Fr. se dis

See also:

• PORTER
• PORTER, BENJAMIN CURTIS (1843– )
• PORTER, DAVID (1780-1843)
• PORTER, DAVID DIXON (1813-1891)
• PORTER, ENDYMION (1587–1649)
• PORTER, HENRY (ft. 1596-1599)
• PORTER, HORACE (1837– )
• PORTER, JANE (1776–1850)
• PORTER, MARY (d. 1765)
• PORTER, NOAH (1811–1892)

porter or deporter, to leave off

See also:

• WORK

work, hence to

See also:

• PLAY

play,

See also:

• LAT

Lat. dis-, away, and portare, to carry; the origin of the meaning lies in the notion of turning away from

See also:

• SER

ser  ious occupations, cf . " diversion "), play, amusement, entertainment or recreation . The term was applied in early times to all forms of pastime . It was, however, particularly used of out-of-door or manly recreations, such as shooting with the bow, hunting and the like . Modern usage has given several meanings to " sport " and " sports . " Generally speaking " sport " includes the out-of-door recreations, the " field-sports," such as fishing, shooting, fox-hunting, &c., connected with the killing or hunting of animals as opposed to organized " games, " which are contests of skill or strength played according to rules . It also includes the special class of horse-racing, the votaries of which, and also of the prize-ring, have arrogated to themselves sometimes the name of " sportsman, " applying that word even to those who follow racing simply as an occasion for betting . On the other hand, the plural " sports " is generally confined to athletic contests such as running, jumping, &c . (see ATHLETIC SPORTS and subsidiary articles) . In zoology and botany the word has a specific meaning of a sudden or singular variation from type, a " diversion " in a more etymological sense of the term .