CROQUET, an open-air game, in which two or more players endeavor to drive wooden balls, by means of long-handled mallets, through a series of arches set in the ground according to some pattern. The player who first makes the complete circle of the hoops or arches wins the match; but during the progress of the game, each player may have the progress of his ball retarded by his adversaries, or assisted by his allies; and these friendly aids and hostile attacks constitute the chief interest of croquet. Although generally spoken of as a modern game, it seems to be really a revival with modifications of the sport with a mallet and ball which was popular in England in the days of the Stewarts, and gave the name Pall Mall to localities in various towns in Eng land as well as on the continent (see BALL). The name (It. pallor, a ball, and maglio, mallet; Fr. palemaille), suggests an Italian origin; but the game was early in vogue in France, and thence passed into England, probably in the beginning of the 17t11 cen tury. Blount's Glossographia describes the game as quoted in the article BALL, and gives figures of the mallets. This game seems to have gone out of fashion early in the 18th century. Who resuscitated it in its modern form, and how it got the name of
croquet, are questions that have not been answered. Since 1850, C. has been a favorite game, and was for a time the most prevalent of all summer amusements, though latterly its charms have been shared by lawn-tennis, rink skating, etc. One advantage of the game is that the two sexes can join in it on equal terms.
A eroquet-graund should be a well-rolled level grass plat or lawn, not less than thirty yards long by twenty yards wide; a full-sized croquet-ground measures forty yards by thirty yards. The boundaries of the ground should be well defined, either by a raised walk or a trench. The game may be very well played on an ordinary cricket-field, or in an inclosed meadow. The grass plats in the squares of large towns have been very generally appropriated to croquet. Croquet can also be played upon a well-rolled gravel ground, or upon the sea-shore, where the sands are hard and dry. Hardness is essential, so as to prevent the ball from sinking into the ground.