What Is Round-Robin (as in a tournament)?
The round-robin form of conducting any engagement between various entities (as in tournaments) is simply each entity engaging with all the other entities. That is, in a tournament, each team or individual plays with each of the other teams/ individuals.
But Why Call It Round-Robin?
While the bird, the red breasted robin has a round appearance, the Robin in the term has nothing to do with the animal kingdom. The word is just a corruption of 'rouban', which in French means 'Ribbon'. Round-rouban became round-robin!
Nautical Origin Of The Round-Rouban Term
As suggested by Gary Martin the origin seems to be from the sea-faring community in Europe. Sailors who feared being punished for starting a mutiny on board a ship would put their signatures on a petition in a circular manner so that no one individual stood out as the leader or trouble-maker.
The French Connection
It is believed that French sailors may have used a ribbon (in the form of a circle/ ring) on which they would have signed their names. The first person to sign (even if it were in a ring manner) must be a brave man indeed. It is tempting to believe the term ringleader owes its origin to this practice. But Gary Martin does not think it likely because 'ringleader' has been used much before the 'round-rouban' usage.
