Rink

Rink

Noun · /rɪŋk/ · a specially prepared surface for ice skating, roller skating, or curling

Definition

A rink is a prepared surface used for ice skating, roller skating, or the sport of curling — and the building or enclosure that contains it. The word covers both the floor itself and the venue as a whole. You skate on the rink, you go to the rink, and you practise at the rink. In curling, the rink also refers to the team of four players as a unit. The word is compact, specific, and instantly understood by anyone who has ever laced up skates.

Origin

From Scottish dialect, originally from Old French renc meaning a row, rank, or course — especially a course or arena for jousting. The Scottish sense shifted toward an enclosed space for sporting activity. The word entered broader English usage in the nineteenth century, first for curling — which was already an established Scottish sport — and then for ice skating as indoor rinks became commercially available across Britain and North America.