What is "tetherball"

also tether-ball, 1900, from tether (n.) + ball (n.1).

n. 1 A two-person sport where players hit a ball on the end of a tether attached to the top of a pole in opposte directions, and the winner is the one who manages to make the tether wrap all the way round the pole. 2 The ball in the sport of tetherball.

n. a game with two players who use rackets to strike a ball that is tethered to the top of a pole; the object is to wrap the string around the pole

Tetherball is a North American game for two opposing players. The equipment consists of a stationary metal pole, from which is hung a volleyball from a rope or tether. The two players stand on opposite sides of the pole. Each player tries to hit the ball one way; one clockwise, and one counterclockwise. The game ends when one player manages to wind the ball all the way around the pole so that it is stopped by the rope. It must not bounce.

An early variant described in Jessie H. Bancroft's 1909 book Games for the Playground... involves tethered tennis ball hit by racquets, with similar rules of the game.