Definition of "dedans" [de•dans]

• A screened gallery for spectators at the service end of a court-tennis court. (noun)
• The spectators at a court-tennis match. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "[Bell's edition.] [315.1] Mr. Julian Marshall, in his "Annals of Tennis," p. 34, describes the two different sorts of tennis courts -- "that which was called Le Quarré, or the Square; and the other with the dedans, which is almost the same as that of the present day.""
• "I over the sport, that a gentleman within the "dedans" touched me twice on the shoulder before I was aware of him."
• ""I shall be the more speedily at your service," I made answer; and as I spoke Randal and Robin came forth from the "dedans," the sport being over."