ˈɜːlɪɚ ɹˈaɪɾɚz jˈuːzd ðə tˈɜːm ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt tə dᵻskɹˈaɪb ðə ɡˈeɪm ʌv bˈɑːɡɐˌædoʊ, ɐ fˈɔːɹʌnɚɹ ʌv lˈækɹɔs æz plˈeɪd baɪ ɑːdʒˈɪbwi æt vˈɔːkshɔːl ɡˈɑːɹdənz ɪn lˈʌndən, ænd tə tˈɛnɪs ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti.
Earlier writers used the term in 1848 to describe the game of baaga'adowe, a forerunner of lacrosse as played by Ojibwe at Vauxhall Gardens in London, and to tennis in 1890.