Why is a score of zero in tennis called "love?" How about something less confusing, persay "zilch?"

mibmob

Comes from the French l'oeuf - an egg- the shape of a zero, I believe. Sep 01 03, 1:34 PM

gmackematix

This is a common misconception. To do something "for love" rather than for money has long meant doing something for nothing and this is how love came to mean nothing in tennis. The "l'oeuf" derivation has little evidence for it despite attempts to link it with a "duck egg" in cricket. Sep 02 03, 2:25 AM

Linus_337

Better add me to the Mibmob Misconception Club - I always thought that it was derived from "l'oeuf". Sep 02 03, 8:42 AM

mibmob

Love" is generally taken as being derived from the French "l"oeuf", the egg, symbolising nothing. The term "love" can also be said to come from the English phrase "neither for love nor for money", indicating nothing. (Taken from the book entitled The Guinness Book of Tennis Facts & Feats and Fifteen Love). Sep 02 03, 2:04 PM

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