Love

A score of zero. When a player has not won any points, or games, or sets, the word “love” is used to indicate that fact. For example, one player may lead another fifteen – love in a game, or three – love in a set, or may have won a set six – love. It is claimed that the word derives from the French word for egg, “l'oeuf,” which would seem to ally it with that other piece of sporting vernacular, “the old goose egg.”