Meaning

noun a minor match preceding the main event

noun something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows

adjective denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding

originBorrowed from New Latin praelīmināris, formed from prae- (“before”) + līmen (“threshold”) + -āris (adjectival suffix); compare Latin līmināris (“of or belonging to a threshold”). Compare French préliminaire.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0