A circular band or ring made of rigid material, often used in games like basketball or hula hoops.
From Old English "hōp" meaning to bind or encircle. Related to Old High German "houfen." The word originally described any circular band used to hold things together, like barrel hoops.
Barrel hoops were so essential to civilization that the word 'cooper' (barrel maker) became a common profession—and basketball hoops borrowed the same circular principle for a completely different purpose!
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