rink

The word 'rink' entered English from Scots in the late 14th century, initially referring to the jousting field or the ranks of combatants in a tournament. This sense came from the Old French renc, meaning a line or row. The Old French term has Germanic roots, likely from Frankish hring, meaning a circle or ring. The modern, specialized meaning of a skating area developed in the 18th century in Scotland, where the word was applied to the course for the game of curling. The logic of the semantic shift lies in the shape: from a line or rank of people, to the circular or rectangular bounded area where a contest or game takes place, and finally to the specific, smooth-surfaced enclosure for ice or roller sports.

The word is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Scots, which itself borrowed it from Old French renc or renque, meaning "rank" or "row". The Old French term is of Germanic origin, related to Old High German hring (ring, circle).