tennis let rules
From the ITF Rule book:The service is a let if:
	a. The ball served touches the net, strap or band, and is otherwise good; or, after
	
	touching the net, strap or band, touches the receiver or the receiver’s partner
	
	or anything they wear or carry before hitting the ground; or
	b. The ball is served when the receiver is not ready.
	
	In the case of a service let, that particular service shall not count, and the server shall
	
	serve again, but a service let does not cancel a previous fault.
Additional approved alternative procedures can be found in Appendix V.
23. THE LET
	In all cases when a let is called, except when a service let is called on a second
	
	service, the whole point shall be replayed.
	Case 1: When the ball is in play, another ball rolls onto court. A let is called. The
	
	server had previously served a fault. Is the server now entitled to a first service or
	
	second service?
	
	Decision: First service. The whole point must be replayed.
	As for the origin of the word:
	
	The one that seems to be most likely is that the word for 'net' in French is 'filet' and since modern tennis has French roots (prior to its current form, there was a similar French game) it's likely 'filet' was modified to 'let' when the British came up with their rules.