Lacrosse \La*crosse"\, n. [F. la crosse, lit., the crosier, hooked stick. Cf. Crosier.]

A game of ball, originating among the North American Indians, now the popular field sport of Canada, and played also in England and the United States. Each player carries a long-handled racket, called a ``crosse''. The ball is not handled but caught with the crosse and carried on it, or tossed from it, the object being to carry it or throw it through one of the goals placed at opposite ends of the field.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)