Sentence:  Although court tennis was at first played by hand (<WSD>jeu de paume</WSD>), the form of the game and the shape of the court were developed during the 12th and 13th centuries to a point differing little from the modern game. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A precursor of lawn tennis, originally played by hitting the ball with the palm of the hand instead of with a racquet.