SportsJuly 16, 2026

hardwood

/ˈhɑːrdwʊd/

Definition

A basketball court, specifically the wooden floor surface upon which the game is played.

Etymology

Derived from the English words 'hard' and 'wood,' referring to the dense, durable timber, typically maple, used for constructing professional and high school sports flooring.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe basketball games, noting how the intensity of football rivalries often carries over to the hardwood. It serves as a common metonym for the sport of basketball itself.

120 greatest rivalries in Indiana high school sports

Read the full article ↗

The Star Press

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