how did the word Squash as in the sport originate?

Answer 1

Squash derives from the games loosely known as Rackets during the 19th century. Rackets itself came from a strange source. Sports involving hitting a ball with a racket of sorts had become increasingly popular at that time and one version developed in London's Fleet prison where debtor inmates got their exercise by whacking a ball against the prison's many walls.

By some weird and wonderful twist of fate the idea was taken up at Harrow public school, where it was noticed it was more interesting and physically demanding to play with a ball that 'squashed' on impact with the wall rather than bouncing straight back. Squash was officially founded when the school had four courts purpose built for the new sport.

Answer 2

Squash is an indoor racquet sport which was, formerly, called "squash raquets", a reference to the 'squashable' soft ball used in the game.

Squash historians assert that the game originated in the 19th century at Harrow School, in London, England, as a derivative of the game of Racquets. The first recorded construction of purpose-built squash courts was at Harrow in the 1860s. It is possible that earlier squash courts were created at Harrow by sub-dividing a racquets court, which is almost exactly the size of three Squash courts (to allow more players on the courts at the same time).

Answer 3

what they said