Late 18th century (in an earlier sense). From French jeu de paume real tennis, court where real tennis is played, lit. ‘game of palm (of the hand)’ from jeu game + de + paume.
Definition of jeu de paume in US English:
jeu de paume
nounˌʒəː də ˈpəʊm
Real tennis.
Origin
Late 18th century (in an earlier sense). From French jeu de paume real tennis, court where real tennis is played, lit. ‘game of palm (of the hand)’ from jeu game + de + paume.