scratch

en-verb

scratch (third-person singular simple present scratches, present participle scratching, simple past and past participle scratched)

scratches (present singular third-person)
scratching (participle present)
scratched (participle past)
scratched (past)

From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch.

scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

Embarrassingly, he scratched on the break, popping the cue completely off the table.

(billiards) To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.

(billiards, dated, US) To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.

Kerley, 26, is the 2019 World bronze medalist at 400 meters, a distance he is known for and with which he also won the 2017 and 2019 U.S. titles, but surprised the track world by announcing one week ago that he scratched the 400m and would focus on the 100m and 200m in Eugene, Oregon, despite not having raced the 100m between 2015 and 2020.

2021 June 21, Brandon Penny, NBC Sports:

Hurtis-Houairi, in lane three, quickly caught Arron, who was in lane four, winning in 22.80. Arron, who scratched the 100m semis in order to focus on the longer sprint, could only run 23.44.

2008 July 26, P-J Vazel, World Athletics:

(swimming, athletics) To announce one's non-participation in a race or sports event part of a larger sports meeting that they were previously signed up for, usually in lieu of another event at the same meeting.


scratch

en-noun

scratch (countable and uncountable, plural scratches)

He started a few seconds before the time and came up in speed to the scratch at the moment appointed.

1820, Reuben Percy, Sholto Percy, The Percy Anecdotes:

A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing.

A technical error of touching or surpassing the starting mark prior to the official start signal in the sporting events of long jump, discus, hammer throw, shot put, and similar. Originally the starting mark was a scratch on the ground but is now a board or precisely indicated mark.

Eventually the elephant and camel were despatched by themselves with two laps start of the bicyclist and horse, the motor car being scratch.

1901, “Gleanings”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 1, page 31:

(cycling) The last riders to depart in a handicap race.

A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.

(archaic, US, slang) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.

There were two scratches in race 8, which reduced the field from nine horses to seven.

(horse racing) A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start.


scratch

... the shot that does most to make a genuine scratch golfer is the mashie shot up to the pin — not merely up to the green.

1964, Charles Price, The American golfer, page 48:

(sports) (of a player) Of a standard high enough to play without a handicap, i.e. to compete without the benefit of a variation in scoring based on ability.


dedans

(court tennis) A division, at one end of a tennis court, for spectators.


bends

decompression sickness
decompression sickness#English

(underwater diving, pathology, usually with the) Synonym of decompression sickness.


body check

(sports) A move in ice hockey or lacrosse in which a player impedes another with his body


body check

en-verb

body check (third-person singular simple present body checks, present participle body checking, simple past and past participle body checked)

body checks (present singular third-person)
body checking (participle present)
body checked (participle past)
body checked (past)

(sports) To perform a body check on someone.


lock up

lock up (third-person singular simple present locks up, present participle locking up, simple past and past participle locked up)

locks up (present singular third-person)
locking up (participle present)
locked up (participle past)
locked up (past)

Twelve laps later, Leclerc locked up at the first chicane and clattered over the run-off area. Again, Hamilton got a run on him, and this time Leclerc defended robustly through the flat-out Curva Grande, moving very late to block Hamilton to the Ferrari's left.

2019 September 8, Andrew Benson, BBC Sport:

(intransitive, motor racing) To (mistakenly) cause or have one of one's wheels to lock up (stop spinning).


polonaise

Borrowed from French polonaise (“Polish”).

(dance) A stately Polish dance in triple time and moderate tempo.


play the field

play the field (third-person singular simple present plays the field, present participle playing the field, simple past and past participle played the field)

plays the field (present singular third-person)
playing the field (participle present)
played the field (participle past)
played the field (past)

(UK, horseracing) To cut one's losses by betting on every racehorse other than the crowd favorite.


shafted

en-adj

shafted (comparative more shafted, superlative most shafted)

more shafted (comparative)
most shafted (superlative)

Arms Azure, a hart's head cabossed and attired or, between the attires a dirk ppr. shafted gules, point downwards.

1907, The "Old Northwest" Genealogical Quarterly, page 169:

[…] a dexter cubit arm, in armour, ppr., garnished or, gules, cinctured with a bracelet, sa., holding a Danish battle-axe, proper, shafted gules, garnished or, for WOLRICH.

1852, Bernard Burke, A genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland for 1852, page 1287:

(heraldry, of a spear, axe, dagger, etc) Having a shaft (or handle) of a specified tincture, typically different from the head.


out of bounds

(sports) A sideline marking the edge of a playing field or court.

Although Oklahoma outyarded the Jays 339 to 155, Kansas fought magnificently and earned its 13-13 tie. Royal's punting had begun to jell. He kicked four out-of-bounds against the Crimson and Blue.

1984, Harold Keith, Forty-Seven Straight: The Wilkinson Era at Oklahoma, Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, published 2003, →ISBN, page 28:

(sports) An instance of a player or the ball going out of bounds.


carbon print

It was a small, stuffy, defunct room, of mahogany, and deathly enlargements of photographs of departed people done in carbon.

1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “chapter 10”, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC:

potassium bichromate
potassium bichromate

(photography) an early photographic print made by soaking a carbon tissue in potassium bichromate


IEF

(philately, overprint on stamps) Initialism of Indian Expeditionary Forces.


EAF

(philately, as an overprint on British stamps) Initialism of East African Forces.


MEF

(philately, overprint on British stamps) Initialism of Middle East Forces.


bottle up

en-verb

bottle up (third-person singular simple present bottles up, present participle bottling up, simple past and past participle bottled up)

bottles up (present singular third-person)
bottling up (participle present)
bottled up (participle past)
bottled up (past)

Darrion Trammell and San Diego State used a dominant defensive performance to knock top overall seed Alabama out of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, bottling up All-America freshman Brandon Miller in a 71-64 victory in the Sweet 16.

2023 March 25, “San Diego State ousts Alabama as all four No. 1 seeds fall short of Elite 8 for 1st time”, in CBC News, archived from the original on 2023-04-08:

Arguably the most important sequence of the game came with less than 30 seconds to play and the Nuggets clinging to a 90-89 lead. Butler drove to the rim but got bottled up in the post by Murray and Jokic then tried to find teammate Max Strus in the corner, but the ball was stolen by Nuggets swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope -- and the Heat were forced to foul.

2013 June 13, Nick Friedell, “Spoelstra, Heat bow out with 'no regrets on our end'”, in ABC News, archived from the original on 2023-06-14:

(sports, slang) To prevent (an opponent) from achieving any effective action.


Morocco agencies

(philately, historical) The British post offices in Morocco; used as an overprint on British stamps.


On HMS

(philately, overprint on British Empire stamps) On Her (or His) Majesty's Service.


overprint

/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌpɹɪnt/

/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈpɹɪnt/

(philately) The addition of new text on a previously printed stamp, usually to add a surcharge or change the face value.

felülnyomás

the addition of new text on a previously printed stamp


overprint

overprint (third-person singular simple present overprints, present participle overprinting, simple past and past participle overprinted)

overprints (present singular third-person)
overprinting (participle present)
overprinted (participle past)
overprinted (past)

/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌpɹɪnt/

/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈpɹɪnt/

(transitive, philately) To add an overprint to (a stamp).


Lord's

(cricket) Lord's Cricket Ground, a cricket ground in London.


one-time

one-time (third-person singular simple present one-times, present participle one-timing, simple past and past participle one-timed)

one-times (present singular third-person)
one-timing (participle present)
one-timed (participle past)
one-timed (past)

Basel's good moment continued, and in stoppage time of the first half, Streller released Salah with a clever pass down the middle and the young Egyptian one-timed the ball over Čech.

2013 May 3, Werner Pichler, “Europa League 2012/13, Semifinal, 2nd Leg (R)”, in rec.sport.soccer (Usenet):

(soccer, ice hockey) To shoot (the ball or puck) directly from a teammate's pass.


night watchman

(cricket) A lower order batter to play the last overs in low light to save better batters for the next day's play.


cruse

From Middle English crouse, from Old English crūse (“jar, cruse”), from Proto-West Germanic *krūsā, from Proto-Germanic *krūsǭ, *krūsaz (“jar, pot, collar, jug”). Cognate with German Krause (“pot with a lid”), Icelandic krús (“jar, jug”). Merged with Middle English croo (“pot, pitcher”), from Old English crōg (“crock, pitcher, vessel”). More at crock.

inh

With a thought I tooke for Maudline
& a cruse of cockle pottage.
with a thing thus tall, skie blesse you all:
I befell into this dotage.

c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665)

He had dipped ungenerously into a generous mother’s purse; basely and recklessly spilt her little cruse.

1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 21, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:

(religion, heraldry or obsolete) A small jar used to hold liquid, such as oil or water.


clag

From Middle English claggen, probably of Scandinavian origin. Compare Swedish klägg and Old English clǣġ.

He ran wide in the corner, hit the clag and spun off.

(motor racing slang) Bits of rubber which are shed from tires during a race and collect off the racing line, especially on the outside of corners (cf. marbles).


enhanced

en-adj

enhanced (comparative more enhanced, superlative most enhanced)

more enhanced (comparative)
most enhanced (superlative)

Big, enhanced mass monsters that tremble the ground they walk on, lift tons (literally), and get winded going up a flight of stairs.
 Of course, there are other areas of the sport such as natural bodybuilders, physique competitors, and pro and amateur levels of contests.

2020 September 3, Brad Borland, “Bodybuilding 101: Sculpting a Powerful Physique”, in Breaking Muscles:

(bodybuilding, euphemistic) Having suffered the use of anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.


punchy

punchy (comparative punchier, superlative punchiest)

punchier (comparative)
punchiest (superlative)

(skiing) Of groomed snow: unable to support the weight of a skier, especially when the skier’s weight is all on one ski, resulting in a ski punching through the surface of the snow.


wingback

(soccer) A player who doubles on either side of the center as a defender when their team is defending, and a winger when they are attacking.

carrilero

soccer: player who doubles as a defender and winger

(American football) A running back who is in formation near the line of scrimmage and outside the tackles, a slotback.


tag-team

en-verb

tag-team (third-person singular simple present tag-teams, present participle tag-teaming, simple past and past participle tag-teamed)

tag-teams (present singular third-person)
tag-teaming (participle present)
tag-teamed (participle past)
tag-teamed (past)

We haven't tag-teamed in the ring for quite a while.

2010, Hulk Hogan, My Life Outside the Ring, →ISBN:

I suggested, to no avail, that WWF (nature) should sponsor a fluffy black-and-white wrestler called the Panda, tag-teamed with the Game Warden.

2012, Paul Spencer Sochaczewski, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, →ISBN, page 171:

Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling David Shoemaker. He had some success, ... He tag-teamed with Tony Atlas (known variously as "Black Superman" and "Mr. USA") and, later, Andre the Giant, to some success.

2013, David Shoemaker, The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling, →ISBN, page 127:

(professional wrestling) To wrestle as part of a tag team (sense 1).

professional wrestling
professional wrestling


set piece

Roberto Carlos is deadly from set pieces.

(soccer) Any planned strategy that a team uses after play is restarted with a free kick, penalty kick, corner kick, goal kick, throw-in or kickoff.


surcharge

/ˈsɜː(ɹ)t͡ʃɑː(ɹ)d͡ʒ/

From Middle French surcharge, from Old French. By surface analysis, sur- + charge. Doublet of supercharge.

(philately) An overprint on a stamp that alters (usually raises) the original nominal value of the stamp; used especially in times of hyperinflation.


perforation gauge

en-noun

perforation gauge (plural perforation gauges)

The perforation-gauge is surrounded by a neat border, and inscription indicating the price — one shilling — and the publisher's address.

1872, The Stamp-collector's magazine, volume 10, page 110:

We desperately need starter materials such as stamps, albums, perforation gauges, hinges or mounts, and magnifying glasses — any materials that a novice collector requires to get started.

2001, The American Philatelist, volume 115, page 686:

It is far easier to use a perforation gauge which for a few dollars can be found on eBay.

2014, Adam Gregory Koch, Philatelic Philosophy: Stamp Collecting Wisdom & Opportunity:

(philately) A device for measuring the number of perforations per 2 centimetre distance along the edge of a postage stamp.


kick-off

The atmosphere at Upton Park before kick-off reflected the palpable tension surrounding the club right now

2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC:

Alcohol consumption following football matches is fuelling domestic abuse in the hours after a game, according to new evidence suggesting that changing kick-off times could help reduce violence.

2021 July 4, Michael Savage, “Early kick-offs linked to more alcohol abuse and violence in the home”, in The Observer:

(soccer, American football) The opening kick of each half of a game of football.


saltire

From Middle English sawtoure, from Old French sautoir (“stile, saltire”) (compare French sautoir (“saltire”)), from sauter (“to jump, to leap”) + -oir (subject forming nouns denoting physical objects from verbs), from Latin saltāre (“to dance, to jump”) + -orium, -oria.

(heraldry) An ordinary (geometric design) in the shape of an X. It usually occupies the entire field in which it is placed.


home straight

Coordinate term: back straight

He was only able to get out into the clear coming into the home straight.

(athletics) The straight part of a running track (or similar) leading to the finishing line.


back straight

He got boxed in amongst four African runners in the back straight of the last lap, and was only able to get out into the clear coming into the home straight.

(athletics, horse racing) The straight part of a racetrack, running track, etc., opposite the finishing line; the backstretch.


Penny Black

(philately) The world's first official postage stamp, issued in 1840 in the United Kingdom as part of postal reforms.


tag team

Probably from tag (“children’s chasing game in which one player (known as ‘it’) attempts to touch another, who then becomes ‘it’; (baseball) instance of touching the baserunner with the ball or the ball in a gloved hand to rule him ‘out’”) + team.

compound

(professional wrestling) A group of wrestlers who work together as a team. Only one is in the ring at any given time, and they change places by "tagging" each other with a gesture like a high five.


ripsaw

en-noun

ripsaw (countable and uncountable, plural ripsaws)

A ripsaw will slice smoothly along the grain, but chew up the wood if it goes against the grain.

2001, Percival Everett, Erasure, Faber & Faber Limited (2021), pages 4-5:

(woodworking) A saw that is designed to cut wood along its grain, i.e. to rip, to execute a rip cut.


wd

(sports) Abbreviation of withdrew (from an event).


tiercel

From Middle English tercel, from Old French terçuel, from Late Latin tertiolus, the diminutive of Latin tertius (“third”). Sources disagree whether the connection is that the males of most species of birds of prey favoured in falconry are smaller than the females by about a third, or whether it refers to the supposition that only one egg in three yields a male.

In this wise, the glossy bright-eyed kestrel, whom tiercels’ training could not reclaim, shook off silver bells, and velvet hood, and broidered jesses; and fled away—to consort, henceforward for evermore, with gleds, and hawks, and such birds of prey as make their nests deep in Bohemian forests, or in the desolate places of the Wilderness that girdles the frontier of the reputable world.

1866, [George Alfred Lawrence], “Evasit”, in Sans Merci; or, Kestrels and Falcons, volume III, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], page 126:

He is a tiercel, lean and long and supple-winged, the first of the year.

1967, J. A. Baker, The Peregrine, page 39:


own goal

It is 20 years to the day since Escobar was shot dead after scoring the own goal that effectively sealed Colombia’s elimination from USA ’94.

2014 July 2, Jeremy Wilson, “Andrés Escobar murder: Colombia prepare for biggest ever World Cup match on 20th anniversary of death”, in The Daily Telegraph:

(sports) A goal that results from a player putting the ball or puck into the goal of their own team; the resulting goal being scored for the opposition.

autogol

goal scored by player against their own team


bullseye

→ German: Bullauge (calque)

→ Esperanto: bovokulo (calque)

From bull's + eye. May have come from the practice of English archers shooting an arrow through the eye socket of a bull's skull as a test of skill. The connection to philately comes from the shape of the key plate or vignette.

(philately, informal) Any of the first postage stamps produced in Brazil from 1843.

(glassblowing) The mark left on a glass piece from its attachment to a punty.


right field

(baseball) The part of a baseball field which is beyond the infield and to your right if you stand on home plate and face the pitcher.

He's got a cannon out in right field.

(baseball) The defensive position in the outfield to the right, typically played by a player who can throw well.


center field

(baseball) The part of a baseball field which is beyond the infield and straight ahead left if you stand on home plate and face the pitcher.

(baseball) The defensive position in the outfield in the middle, typically played by a player that can run fast.


catcher's mitt

catcher's mitt (plural catcher's mitts or catchers' mitts)

catcher's mitts (plural)
catchers' mitts (plural)

(baseball) A large protective glove used by a catcher when playing baseball.


on the defensive

Brazil's greater quality and assurance in possession meant England spent much of the game on the defensive.

2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News:

(sports) defending; playing a defensive game


chipper

(golf) A golf club for making chip shots.


Cubs

Abbreviation of "Cub Scouts" or "Chicago Cubs".


take the fall

en-verb

take the fall (third-person singular simple present takes the fall, present participle taking the fall, simple past took the fall, past participle taken the fall)

takes the fall (present singular third-person)
taking the fall (participle present)
took the fall (past)
taken the fall (participle past)

(idiomatic, informal, sports, especially boxing) To willingly lose a match, as in a fixed fight.


shinty

en-noun

shinty (countable and uncountable, plural shinties)

To the city's large population of Highlanders, it was a portal to home, a place where you could speak Gaelic and sing it, buy tickets to the Glasgow Skye Association's annual dance, squabble about shinty arrange a lift to Ullapool, read the classifieds in the West Highland Free Press.

2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 156:

(sports, uncountable) A game derived from hurling, and resembling hockey, played in Scotland.

(sports, countable) The stick used to strike the ball in this game, similar to a hockey stick.


dead rubber

(sports) In a series of sporting fixtures, a match of which the result is irrelevant, the winner of the series having already been determined by earlier results.


rimless

Took aim and scored, a sure, rimless basket.

(basketball) Not touching the rim of the basket while passing through it.


algraphy

From aluminium + -graphy by analogy with lithography or zincography.

"Process" is well to the fore, a design in colours from line blocks adorns the front cover, there are no less than seven examples of trichromotypography, various samples of half-tone with additional workings, three fine specimens of photogravure, a multi-colour subject, a collotype, a chromolithograph, examples respectively of algraphy, "granotype," Sprague's ink photo process, some twelve specimens of Johnstonia steel engraving and Johnston die press work, a very practical series of Linotype work—newspaper setting, book, magazine and jobbing work—an exeedingly interesting set, one or two type displays of little note, and some O.S. type specimens.

1901, The British Printer, volume 14, page 193:

(photography) An early photographic technique, similar to zincography or lithography, using paper impregnated with an aluminium salt.


cotillion

/kəʊtɪlˈjɒ̃/

Circa 1750, in the sense of the dance, from French cotillon (“petticoat”), extended to the dance because of the distinctive lift of dress revealing the petticoat, from cotte (“dress”) + -illon (diminutive). Said to derive from the then-popular song Ma commère, quand je danse, mon cotillion va-t-il bien.

Mrs. Hughes now joined them, and asked Miss Tilney if she was ready to go. "I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again soon," said Catherine. "Shall you be at the cotillion ball tomorrow?"

1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter X, in Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:

The second figure [of the dance] commenced, and I made a sad bungle; so I did of the third, and fourth, and fifth, for I never had danced a cotillon.

1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter XII, in Peter Simple. […], volume II, London: Saunders and Otley, […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 200:

(dance) A bold dance performed in groups of eight where women lift their skirts to display their ankles.


crip

en-verb

crip (third-person singular simple present crips, present participle cripping, simple past and past participle cripped)

crips (present singular third-person)
cripping (participle present)
cripped (participle past)
cripped (past)

crip up

to imitate a disabled person as a role while acting


treble hook

(fishing) A fishhook where three hooks share a single shank, each point separated by 120º.


bobber

(fishing) A buoyant device (frequently made of cork) attached to a line so as to suspend the end of the line with the hook (and bait or lure) above the bottom.


retire the side

retire the side (third-person singular simple present retires the side, present participle retiring the side, simple past and past participle retired the side)

retires the side (present singular third-person)
retiring the side (participle present)
retired the side (participle past)
retired the side (past)

[…] and that will retire the side [sportscaster patter]

Jones steps on first to retire the side.

(baseball) To get the third out of an inning, thus ending the turn of one team (side) for batting and signaling the next turn of the other team (side).


bat around

bat around (third-person singular simple present bats around, present participle batting around, simple past and past participle batted around)

bats around (present singular third-person)
batting around (participle present)
batted around (participle past)
batted around (past)

If the teams do not have the same number of players, the team with the greater number of players bats around once per inning, and the team with the smaller number of players will bat an equal number of times as the opposing team,[…].

1965, Recreation, National Recreation Association, page 498:

[…]the Braves knocked Bunning out, batting around and scoring six runs in the fourth inning. They then scored four more runs the next inning, batting around once again against Dallas Green[…].

2005, John P. Rossi, The 1964 Phillies: The Story of Baseball's Most Memorable Collapse, McFarland, →ISBN, page 128:

The Phillies thus batted around the lineup without a hit for the first time since July 17, 1992, a run that lasted more than 24 years, per ESPN Stats & Info. If not for the inning-ending double play, the Phillies might have even sent 10 or 11 batters to the plate without recording a single hit.

2016 July 31, Bleacher Report Milestones, “Phillies Bat Around in 8th Inning Without Recording a Hit”, in Bleacher Report:

(intransitive, baseball) To have each of a team's batting line-up positions complete an at-bat in the same half-inning.

To have a team's first batter of the inning come to bat for a second time (after all of the others in the batting line-up have batted). (See the usage note below.)


crampon

(heraldry) A heraldic figure in the form of a bar bent at the ends into the form of a hook.


imperf

(philately) Clipping of imperforate or imperforated.


imperforate

(philately) A postage stamp that has not been perforated.


fourth official

en-noun

fourth official (plural fourth officials)

(soccer) The official who keeps things at the dugout in order, and displays substitutions and the amount of injury time


centre circle

Vardy should have equalled Dunne’s record nine minutes in, when he dispossessed Williams in the centre circle and sped clear.

2015 December 5, Alan Smith, “Leicester City back on top as Riyad Mahrez hat-trick downs Swansea City”, in The Guardian (London):

(soccer) The circle in the centre of the pitch which, at kick-off, the defending team may not enter until the attacking side has touched the ball.

cercle central

the circle in the centre of the pitch in soccer


out-swinger

(soccer) A ball that curves away from the goal.


professional foul

professional foul (plural professional fouls)

(sports) An intentional foul, usually committed to prevent a scoring opportunity.


in-swinger

(soccer) A ball that curves towards the goal

(cricket) a delivery that curves towards the batsman.


six-yard box

Roman Sharonov rose unchallenged to head a corner wide, while diminutive winger Gokdeniz Karadeniz ghosted in with a diving header from the edge of the six-yard box that was acrobatically kept out by Gomes.

2011 October 20, Jamie Lillywhite, “Tottenham 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) An enclosed area inside the penalty area, extending 6 yards (5.5 metres) from the goal, inside which a goal kick must be taken.


dribbler

(sports) A person who performs dribbling.


penalty arc

(soccer) An arc whose center is the penalty spot, extending from the top of the penalty area.


goalmouth

There were still 20 minutes remaining but the pace refused to relent. Kalou should have scored his second of the night after he was released by Anelka but his side-foot effort from inside the area struck both posts before spinning away from the goalmouth.

2011 February 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Sunderland 2 - 4 Chelsea”, in BBC:

(sports) The space between the goalposts through which the ball, puck, etc has to pass in order to score


injury time

(sports) Additional time played after each period of a game in order to compensate for stoppages due to player injuries; loosely extended to include time added on to compensate for all types of stoppages, i.e. synonymous with stoppage time.

وَقْتٌ بَدَلُ الضَّائِع

additional time played straight after each of the two halves


diving header

To that end, the home supporters were in good voice to begin with, but it was Newcastle who started the game in the ascendancy, with Barton putting a diving header over the top from Jose Enrique's cross.

2011 April 10, Alistair Magowan, “Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) A ball struck near ground level by the head of a diving player.


perf

(philately) Abbreviation of perforated. When followed by a number, eg, perf 14, this indicates the number of perforations per two centimetres.


offside trap

offside trap (usually uncountable, plural offside traps)

He managed to beat the offside trap and clinch the winner.

But the visitors started the game in stunning fashion when Morten Gamst Pedersen dinked forward a clever looping pass and Kalinic beat the offside trap, surged into the box and beautifully placed the ball past goalkeeper Scott Carson.

2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC:

(soccer) A defensive play intended to catch the attacking team offside, generally in such a way that the defense line suddenly and simultaneously moves forward.


drop-ball

(soccer) A method of restarting play in a game where the referee drops the ball between two players of opposing teams.


penalty area

Racing out of his penalty area after a poor clearance, Haimov was beaten to the ball by Jerome, who rolled it to the waiting Shotton to fire a low shot past the goalkeeper.

2011 October 20, Michael da Silva, “Stoke 3 - 0 Macc Tel-Aviv”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer, futsal) An area of a pitch or field, inside which a penalty is given to the offensive team if a foul is made by the defensive team.


slide tackle

Christian Karembeu almost broke his supermodel wife's leg with a slide tackle during a football game in their back garden.

2002 February 27, “Cruncher Karembeu takes it out on his wife”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) a tackle to get the ball by sliding on the ground feet-first


Cruyff turn

Named after Dutch football player Johan Cruyff (1947–2016).

(soccer) A piece of footwork where, instead of passing or crossing the ball directly by kicking it, the player drags the ball behind his planted foot with the inside of his crossing foot, turns through 180 degrees, and accelerates away from the defender.


coxswain

From Middle English cokswain; equivalent to cock (“a boat”) + swain (“boy, servant”); hence “the master of a boat”.

compound

(rowing) The member of a crew who steers the shell and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.


man on

(soccer, basketball) An outcry warning a teammate of an approaching opponent, usually from the rear.


FCK

It came down to the penultimate game of the year, FCK away at Brondby, and Brondby blew it.

2003, David Goldblatt, World Soccer Yearbook 2003-2004, →ISBN:

This did not deter Flemming Østergaard, a charismatic businessman that led the takeover of FC Copenhagen (FCK) in 1997, from embarking on a similar diversification strategy (Storm, 2009). FCK went on to purchase the Danish national stadium, Parken, took up property investments, a bought a chain of fitness centres (fitness.dk) and two large vactations resorts, one of them close to the LEGOLAND Theme Park in Billund.

2011, Hallgeir Gammelsæter, Benoit Senaux, The Organisation and Governance of Top Football Across Europe, →ISBN:

An FCK soccer scarf was draped over a chair.

2012, A.J. Kazinski -, The Last Good Man, →ISBN, page 426:

It's therefore worth spending time at the website of FC København. You can browse FCK TV, OM FCK, which is presumably a Zen-like activity that Sting and Trudie Styler would enjoy, and have a MIT FCK. There are FCK highlights, KlubFCK, and FCK Away. There's something for everyone.

2014, Luke Dempsey, Club Soccer 101, →ISBN:

(soccer) Initialism of FC København (“FC Copenhagen”).

Sportarztebund Rheinland/Pfalz (chmn. since 1964), assn. and team med. doctor for 1st FCK Kaiserslautern (football club).

1983, Karl Strute, Theodor Doelken, Who's Who in Germany 1982-1983 - Part 1, →ISBN, page 1253:

This was my first opportunity to meet FCK supporters, and I was intoxicated by their merch table before I even entered the stadium.

2014, Tanya H. Keith, Passionate Soccer Love: A Memoir of 20 Years Supporting Us Soccer, →ISBN:

FC Kaiserslautern (FCK) was the first football club in the Bundesliga (German Federal Football League) to create a team, initially, and then a section for women's football.

2018, Gertrud Pfister, Stacey Pope, Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man's World, →ISBN:

1. FC Kaiserslautern
w:1. FC Kaiserslautern

(soccer) Initialism of 1. FC Kaiserslautern.


Ruthian

en-adj

Ruthian (comparative more Ruthian, superlative most Ruthian)

more Ruthian (comparative)
most Ruthian (superlative)

From "Babe" Ruth, holder of the record for number of home runs in a season from 1919 to 1961, and for home runs in a career from 1921 to 1974.

Jones launches a Ruthian blast; it lands high in the upper deck.

(baseball) Prodigiously accomplished with respect to batting, typically describing the flight of a long home run.


backheel

[Bendtner was central to it at all, firstly firing home, via a deflection off Gareth McAuley, after being teed up by Sebastien Larsson's neat backheel, and then a minute later crossing for Elmohamady to head in an equaliser.

2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) A kick played by the heel which typically travels in the opposite direction from which the player is facing.

(wrestling) A method of tripping or throwing by getting the leg back of the opponent's heel on the outside and pulling forward while pushing his body back.


backheel

en-verb

backheel (third-person singular simple present backheels, present participle backheeling, simple past and past participle backheeled)

backheels (present singular third-person)
backheeling (participle present)
backheeled (participle past)
backheeled (past)

Mount’s low cross deflected, Olivier Giroud backheeled for Pulisic and Arsenal’s defenders seemed to react in slow motion.

2020 August 1, David Hytner, “Aubameyang at the double as Arsenal turn tables on Chelsea to win FA Cup”, in The Guardian:

(wrestling) To perform such a trip or throw.


quick pitch

Following some confusion the pitcher immediately attempted a quick pitch but was called for a balk.

(baseball) A pitch thrown without any of the normal setup routine to try and catch a batter off guard.


pinch runner

(baseball) A substitute runner, usually brought in to replace a slow runner to increase the chance of that runner scoring.


grand final

(sports, chiefly Australia) The culmination of a series of final matches played between a number of sporting teams.


Mendoza line

After shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of minimally competent hitting.

His recent slump has put him perilously close to the Mendoza line; he may be headed to AAA soon.

(baseball) A .200 batting average, which is around the minimum batting average a player with strong defensive skills can have and still stay in the major leagues. Named for Mario Mendoza.


send down

send down (third-person singular simple present sends down, present participle sending down, simple past and past participle sent down)

sends down (present singular third-person)
sending down (participle present)
sent down (participle past)
sent down (past)

After performing poorly for the first month of the season, he was sent down to the minor leagues.

(baseball) To demote a player within the levels of professional baseball.


onside

The goal was allowed because the attacker was onside.

After passing the puck, the center immediately breaks to the front of the net, making certain to stay onside.

2004, Bruce Driver, Clare Wharton, The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching Youth Hockey, page 178:

Rafael van der Vaart then stayed onside to slot past Paddy Kenny when he collected Ledley King's mis-hit shot.

2011 October 30, Alistair Magowan, “Tottenham 3 - 1 QPR”, in BBC Sport:

The difference in recovery percentage between surprise onside kicks and non-surprise onside kicks is striking.

2012, Jeffrey Ma, The House Advantage: Playing the Odds to Win Big In Business, →ISBN:

If the ball carrier you are doubling gets the ball through the lane, the rotation is as follows: The onside man who was denying his man the ball continues the same technique.

2018, Jack B. Kaley, Richard B. Donovan, Lacrosse Essentials, →ISBN, page 113:

(sports) Not in an offside position; In the part of the playing area where one can legally play the ball, puck, etc.


onside

(sports) The portion of the playing area where one can legally play the ball, puck, etc.


one-two

A Ricketts and Stuart Holden one-two around the box then created a decent chance for an almost instant equaliser - but Welsh full-back Ricketts blasted over when a calmer finish could have been rewarded.

2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC:

Kane had dropped off to spread the play with a diagonal and, when he darted for the far post, Saka curled the ball back towards him – call it a long-range one-two.

March 26 2023, David Hytner, “Kane and Bukayo Saka combine against Ukraine for England’s perfect Euros start”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) A quick one-touch play between two players.

narážečka

soccer: quick one-touch play between two players

(boxing) A one-two punch; two punches delivered in rapid succession

une-deux

boxing: two-punches delivered in rapid succession

(motor racing) A race victory such that two (often both) cars of a constructor or team finish first and second in the race.


midfielder

→ Japanese: ミッドフィールダー (middofīrudā)

The game was engulfed in controversy when Rodwell appeared to win the ball cleanly in a midfield challenge with Suarez. The tackle drew an angry response from Liverpool's players- Lucas in particular as Suarez writhed in agony - but it was an obvious injustice when the England Under-21 midfielder was shown the red card.

2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0 - 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

(sports) A player who operates behind the attackers and in front of the defence.


halftime

en-noun

halftime (countable and uncountable, plural halftimes)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-halftime.wav

(American football) The halftime show, the primary light entertainment of a game, after the second quarter, when players can physically recover, coaches can give players a pep talk, bets can be doubled, etc.


buttress

From Old French ars bouterez (noun, literally “supporting arcs”), from bouterez (adj), oblique plural of bouteret (rare in the singular), from Frankish *botan, from Proto-Germanic *bautaną (“to push”). Ultimately cognate with beat.

der

Crowell Buttresses, Dismal Buttress

All that day they rode into broken land. The prairie with its grass and rolling hills was behind them, and they entered a sparse, dry, rocky country, full of draws and short cañons and ominous buttresses.

2005, Will Cook, Until Darkness Disappears, page 54:

Two short pitches up a chimney-crack are followed by a traverse right to the centre of the buttress.

2010, Tony Howard, Treks and Climbs in Wadi Rum, Jordan, →ISBN, page 84:

(climbing) A feature jutting prominently out from a mountain or rock.

рид

feature jutting out from mountain; crag, bluff


half-time

en-noun

half-time (countable and uncountable, plural half-times)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-half-time.wav

Let's get some pizza at half-time.

(sports) The interval between the two halves of a sports match.

Halbzeit f (also means either of the two halves)


hot shoe

(photography) A fixture on a camera to which a separate flash unit may be attached, equipped with an electrical connection which transmits the firing signal from the camera to the flash.


on the back foot

(cricket, of a batsman) Having the weight on the back foot in order to play a defensive stroke


headset

(cycling) On a bicycle, the system of bearings that connects the fork to the frame.

balhoofd

on a bicycle, the system of bearings that connects the fork to the frame


go up

en-verb

go up (third-person singular simple present goes up, present participle going up, simple past went up, past participle gone up)

goes up (present singular third-person)
going up (participle present)
went up (past)
gone up (participle past)


pay-off

The bases are loaded, so he'd better make the pay-off count.


spiral pass

from the helical spiral that a point at the circumference of the spinning ball traces as it moves forward

(sports) A long pass in American football or rugby in which the ball is given a brisk spin (about its longitudinal axis) as it is thrown so that it travels in a smooth arc without tumbling or wobbling.


normal time

Aaron Ramsey, a hero last season against Hull, missed a sitter at the end of normal time that would have made the game safe and must have been relieved that his shot against a post from four yards out did not cost his side more dearly.

2015 April 18, Paul Wilson, The Guardian:

Italy's eventual win was worthy of an audience filling Wembley twice over, the joy of Mancini and his players a brutal contrast to the despair of much-derided Spain striker Alvaro Morata, who had actually rescued them with an equaliser in normal time after Federico Chiesa's superb opener for Italy.

2021 July 6, Phil McNulty, “Italy beat Spain on penalties: 'Pure theatre as Italy present formidable obstacle in final'”, in BBC Sport:

(sports) The standard period of play, contrasted with any additional periods such as injury time, extra time or penalty shootout.


coordinator

→ Japanese: コーディネーター (kōdinētā)

(sports, chiefly American football) An assistant coach responsible for a particular facet of the game, such as defense.


short stop

(baseball) Alternative spelling of shortstop


on deck circle

Jones warms up in the on deck circle.

(baseball) The circle drawn or painted on the field where the next batter to hit waits.


backside throw

Good backside throw leads to good hip speed which leads to good bat speed.

(baseball) The rotation of the knee and lower body of the side of the batter away from the pitcher during a swing.


bat speed

Good hip speed leads to good bat speed.

(baseball) The speed of the bat during a swing.


on deck

Jones is the on-deck batter.

(baseball) Being the batter who will be up next, typically when that player is waiting on the field.


hit parade

That’s going to do it for Smith as Jones joins the hit parade off him.

(baseball) Many hits in a row scored by one team.


Wimbledon

From an Old English name (probably Wynnmann, or alternatively Wynebeald) + dūn (“hill”).

Norman Brookes was the first Australian to win the men's singles at Wimbledon in 1907 - making him the first male outside Britain to win the Championships and the first of 12 Australian men to take the title.

2005, Jane Egginton, Working and Living Australia, page 81:

In the 1991 Wimbledon semifinal between Michael Stich and Stefan Edberg, there was just one service break in the entire match, and the guy whose serve was broken, Stich, ended up winning the match!

2008, Pete Sampras, Peter Bodo, Pete Sampras: A Champion's Mind, published 2010, unnumbered page:

An incredible 28 thousand kilograms of strawberries are eaten at Wimbledon every year...

2013, Jack Goldstein, Frankie Taylor, 101 Amazing Facts about Wimbledon, unnumbered page:

(tennis) The Wimbledon Championships, a prestigious tennis tournament.


hip speed

en-noun

hip speed (countable and uncountable, plural hip speeds)

Good hip speed leads to good bat speed.

(baseball) The speed of rotation of the hips of a batter during a swing.


aerialist

/ˈɛəɹɪəlɪst/

Abramenko, a top aerialist in freestyle skiing, a five-time Olympian and the country’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremony, garnered more attention after the event, when a photograph of his hug with a Russian rival was widely circulated.

2022 March 4, John Branch, “He Won an Olympic Silver for Ukraine. Now He’s Hiding in a Kyiv Garage.”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-03-05:

(skiing) A specialist in aerials, a freestyle skiing discipline.


platinum sombrero

platinum sombrero (plural platinum sombreros)

Mike had to witness his dad achieve a platinum sombrero last night.

(baseball) A humorous verbal "award" given to a batter who has struck out five times in a single game.


golden sombrero

golden sombrero (plural golden sombreros)

Jones got a golden sombrero last night; he had a hat trick (three strikeouts) going into the ninth inning, then struck out for the fourth time.

(baseball) A humorous verbal "award" given to a batter who has struck out four times in a single game.


MILY ADMN

(philately, overprint on British Empire stamps of Burma) Acronym of military administration.


WTA

Women's Tennis Association
w:Women's Tennis Association

(tennis) Initialism of Women's Tennis Association.

Men's Association of Tennis Professionals


fresh legs

The tired France were unable to break down the German defence, so they brought on some fresh legs.

Arsenal had the ideal fresh legs for extra time in Theo Walcott, and though he was sent on after 10 minutes he was uninvolved in the winning goal.

18 April 2015, Paul Wilson, “Alexis Sánchez sends Arsenal into final after gallant Reading go the distance”, in The Guardian:

But they survived some real pressure as David Murphy flashed a header inches wide of Rob Green's right-hand post and then struck the killer blow on the night - and, they hope, the tie - after introducing the fresh legs of Cole and Zavon Hines.

2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC:

(sports, idiomatic) A substitute who has yet to play in the match, and therefore has more energy than those already on the field.


break point

(tennis) A situation in which if the receiver wins the next point, (s)he will win the game (but not the set or match).


foot fault

In tennis, a foot fault results when server's foot is placed outside the service area prior to the ball being hit.

In pickleball, a foot fault occurs when a player volleys a ball while in the kitchen, or non-volley zone.

(sports) In certain sports, as in tennis or long jump, a fault in which the athlete's foot is in the wrong place at the wrong time.


double play depth

The infield is at double play depth with one out and a man at first.

(baseball) A shift in the defensive alignment of the infielders towards home plate when there is a baserunner on first base, to increase the possibility of getting a double play.


tools of ignorance

Jones straps on the tools of ignorance.


keystone corner

keystone corner (plural keystone corners)

Jones takes the toss at the keystone corner, on to first... double play.

(baseball) Second base, because it is often the key to scoring and defense.


four fingers

Four fingers are up for Jones because the weak-hitting Smith will follow.

(baseball) The sign made by the manager directing the pitcher to issue an intentional walk.


set point

(tennis, volleyball) A situation where if one of the two players wins the next point, (s)he will win the set (but not the match).


worm burner

From the humorous notion that any worms on the ground might be burned by the rapid passage of the ball.

Jones smashes a worm burner to mid on.

Jones smashes a worm burner between third and short.

(baseball, cricket) A hard-hit ground ball.


match point

He made it to match point three times and still lost, but you can't come much closer than that.

(sports, tennis) A state in a game where a player can win the entire match by winning the next point. Often used in tennis.


double fault

While reaching last year's US Open final showed he possesses an all-round game, Anderson's biggest weapon remains his serve - which he lost in the opening game against Djokovic with a double fault on break point.

2018 July 15, Jonathan Jurejko, “Novak Djokovic wins fourth Wimbledon by beating Kevin Anderson”, in BBC Sport:

(tennis) The missing of both the first serve and second serve, resulting in a point for the receiver.


descender

(cycling) A cyclist who excels at fast descents.

(climbing) A belay device used in rock climbing, or as a fire escape.


faceplant

From face + plant (“place, set firmly”). Originally skateboarding and snowboarding slang, a humorous variant of handplant, which is an intentional technique in these sports.

(wrestling) A wrestling move in which an attacking wrestler forces an opponent down to the mat face-first without a headlock or facelock.


wild card

Kye Sun-Hui won an Olympic gold medal in Judo, despite being a wild card.

(sports) A competitor or team that is allowed to compete in a tournament despite not reaching the normal standards to qualify for inclusion.


bare hand

en-verb

bare hand (third-person singular simple present bare hands, present participle bare handing, simple past and past participle bare handed)

bare hands (present singular third-person)
bare handing (participle present)
bare handed (participle past)
bare handed (past)

Jones bare hands the bunt and throws to first... out!

(transitive, baseball) To field the ball without one's glove in one's hand.


Azzurri

(soccer) the Italy national football team


dovetail

The noun is derived from dove + tail. The verb is derived from the noun.

[T]heſe muſt be joined at Bottom to the Piles by a ſtrong Dove-tail, and the Piles joined vvith Braces; […]

1733, Philip Miller, “WINE-PRESS”, in The Gardeners Dictionary: […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC, column 1:

With a warding file cut a dovetail on each of the ends to be joined, as shown by Fig. 1.

1900, “Brazing Keys”, in Paul N[ooncree] Hasluck, editor, Cassell’s Cyclopædia of Mechanics […] (First Series), London, Paris: Cassell and Company, […], →OCLC, page 311, column 1:

After marking out the pins on the drawer sides, we proceed with the next operation, that is, sawing the dovetails ready for chopping out the waste material.

[1921], [William Fairham], “The Dovetail Joint”, in Woodwork Joints: How They are Set Out, How Made and Where Used; […], Philadelphia, Pa., London: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC, page 123:

DOVETAIL joints, well known for their strength, have long been used in fine cabinet work. Nowadays they are frequently displaced by other types of joints that are easier to make with power tools, but where a self-locking joint is needed for use without glue, the dovetail is unsurpassed.

1944 April, Edwin M. Love, “Handmade Dovetails”, in Charles McLendon, editor, The Popular Science Monthly, volume 144, number 4, New York, N.Y.: Popular Science Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 151, column 1:

(chiefly woodworking, often attributively)

In full dovetail joint: a type of joint where adjoining components are fastened by multiple tenons cut into wedge shapes resembling a dove's tail, which interlock with mortises having corresponding shapes.

تَعْشِيقَة

type of joint where adjoining components are fastened by multiple tenons cut into wedge shapes resembling a dove’s tail, which interlock with mortises having corresponding shapes

A tenon cut into a wedge shape resembling a dove's tail so that it interlocks with a mortise having a corresponding shape in a dovetail joint.

lohenpyrstövaarna

I ſhall add other tvvo Forms of Lines, […] The firſt of theſe tvvo is termed Patee, or Dove-Tail, from a Form of Art uſed by Joiners, vvho make Joints one into the other by that Name: […]

1722, Alexander Nisbet, “Of the Points and Parts of the Shield; and Forms of Lines, which Divide the Shield into Several Parts”, in A System of Heraldry Speculative and Practical: […], Edinburgh: […] J. MackEuen, →OCLC, page 23:

ASSEMBLEE, [in Heraldry,] a Dovetail or more to hold the tvvo Parts of the Eſcutcheon together, vvhere the Partition Line is, being countercharged, is ſome of the Metal and ſome of the Colour of the Eſcutcheon.

1736, John Harris, “ASSEMBLEE”, in Lexicon Technicum: Or, An Universal English Dictionary of Arts and Sciences: […], 5th edition, volume I, London: […] J. Walthoe, […], →OCLC, column 2:

The ninth is Quarterly per Pale dovetail, Ruby and Topaz; born by the Right Hon. Thomas Bromley, Lord Montfort, &c.

1765, Mark Anthony Porny [pseudonym; Antoine Pyron du Martre], “Of the Charges. Article I. Of Honourable Ordinaries.”, in The Elements of Heraldry, […], London: […] J[ohn] Newbery, […], →OCLC, section II (Of the Pale), page 47:

(heraldry) A line resembling a dovetail joint (sense 2.1).

klínová stínka

(heraldry) line resembling a dovetail joint


dovetail

dovetail (third-person singular simple present dovetails, present participle dovetailing, simple past and past participle dovetailed)

dovetails (present singular third-person)
dovetailing (participle present)
dovetailed (participle past)
dovetailed (past)

[T]heſe Piles ought to be placed contrary to the Stillings, vvhich ſurround or croſs them every three Feet, and Dove-tail'd into the ſquare Supporters; […]

1733, Philip Miller, “WINE-PRESS”, in The Gardeners Dictionary: […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC, column 2:

In house-building it is further forbidden [by Sultan Muhammed Shah] to dovetail or make the ends of the timbers (e.g. of the roof) fit accurately together, and also to build two verandahs, one on each side of the house, with their floors on a level with the floor of the main building; if two verandahs are used, the floor of one must be lower than that of the main building (kelek anak).

1900, Walter William Skeat, “Man and His Place in the Universe”, in Malay Magic: Being an Introduction to the Folklore and Popular Religion of the Malay Peninsula, London: Macmillan and Co.; New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC, footnote 1, page 33:

(chiefly woodworking) To unite (components) with a dovetail (noun sense 2.1) or similar joint.

عَشَّقَ

to unite (components) with a dovetail or similar joint


underprint

(philately) Printing underneath the main design of a stamp, intended to prevent forgery or removal of the postmark.

(philately, considered incorrect usage) a logo or advertising printed on the underside of a stamp; backprint.


rental

en-noun

rental (countable and uncountable, plural rentals)

→ Japanese: レンタル (rentaru)

[When the trade deadline approaches], Everyone wants to talk about which preening millionaire is going to be shipped out of town because he can't get along with his GM, or what veteran is going to finally get a shot at a Cup, or which guy is going to a contender as a "rental." Sure, it's gossip. Is that so wrong?

2012, Sean Pronger, Journeyman: The Many Triumphs (and Even More Defeats) Of A Guy Who's Seen Just About Everything in the Game of Hockey:

(sports) A player traded to a team with a year or less on his contract


the sticks

Possibly derived from 1800s Chinook Jargon stick (“tree, forest”), from English stick.

They gained just enough on that play to move the sticks and continue the drive.

(American football) The set of yardage markers used by a chain crew to indicate the ten yards between the line of scrimmage from the previous first down and the line to gain, which the offense must reach in their series of four downs in order to retain possession of the ball.


shootout

(ice hockey) A series of penalty shots during which a tied game is resolved.

(sports) A match in which both teams score highly.


catenaccio

Borrowed from Italian catenaccio, literally "bolt (for a door)".

(soccer) A system of defensive play focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities.


Pilgrim

(soccer) Someone connected with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Chelsea

From Old English Celchyth, from cealc (“chalk”) + hȳþ (“landing place”).

association football
association football

(soccer) Chelsea FC, an English association football club.


regardant

/ɹɪˈɡɑːdn̩t/

From Middle English regardant, from Anglo-Norman regardant, Middle French regardant.

The dog was waiting for him, her paws on the second tread, pere regardant with a happy lolling tongue.

1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 25:

I see a forked beast squatting on the midden of the world, red-eyed, regardant, gnawing on a shinbone: poor, dumb destroyer.

(heraldry, of an animal) With the head turned toward the back of the body.


lambrequin

(heraldry) A heraldic representation of such an item: mantling.


klister

klister (countable and uncountable, plural klisters)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-klister.wav

(skiing) A soft wax used for grip on skis, especially for corn snow or crust.


duster

desc

→ Cebuano: daster (“type of loose dress worn at home”)

→ Indonesian: daster (“type of loose dress worn at home”)

→ Tagalog: daster (“type of loose dress worn at home”)

(baseball) A high pitch toward the batter.


edging

en-noun

edging (countable and uncountable, plural edgings)

(climbing) A technique involving the placement of the edge of the climbing shoe on a sharp hold.


prospect

From Latin prospectus, past participle of prospicere (“to look forward”), from pro (“before, forward”) + specere, spicere (“to look, to see”), equivalent to pro- + -spect. Doublet of prospectus.

(sports) Any player whose rights are owned by a top-level professional team, but who has yet to play a game for said team.

varaus

sports: player whose rights are owned by a top-level professional team, but who has yet to play a game for said team


Cincinnati

Named after the Society of the Cincinnati, which is named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus; see Latin Cincinnāti and Cincinnātus.

(bowling) A 7–9 or 8–10 split (result of a first throw).


dry fly

(fishing) A fly used in fly fishing, designed to float in or on the surface of the water


shoulder surfing

shoulder surfing (computer security)
shoulder surfing (surfing)

(surfing) a technique in surfing requiring less skill, riding the wave lower down than its critical point


catch and release

(fishing) A variety of angling where the fish are released after capture, as a conservation measure.


gamefish

gamefish (plural gamefishes or gamefish)

(fishing) Fish deemed suitable for the sport of angling, as opposed to those caught primarily for food.


fly fishing

(fishing) A form of angling whereby the weight of the line is used to cast a lure visually resembling a fly.


wet fly

[…] it was with the wet fly that he really knew happiness, trailing it, subtly, seductively under the surface, tempting the fish on to the hook, feeling their play and reading their mind from the tug and pressure beneath the surface of the water.

1987, Edward Rutherford, Sarum, New York: Crown Publishers, page 875:

(fishing) A lure for fly fishing designed to be fished beneath the surface of the water.


wet fly

[…] he had a spinning rod and a fly rod, but the rivers were too shallow and too swift for spinning, and he preferred to fish wet fly.

1952, Nevil Shute, chapter 4, in The Far Country, London: Heinemann:


bullhead

(horology) A chronograph (watch or stopwatch) with two push buttons arranged like the horns of a bull on the top end of the case, typically with the crown between them.


armorial

Mute Memento of that union
In a Saxon Church survives,
Where a cross-legged Knight lies sculptured
As between two wedded Wives—
Figures with armorial signs of race and birth,
And the vain rank the Pilgrims bore while yet on earth.

1835, William Wordsworth, The Armenian Lady's Love, Stanza 26, lines 151-156:

The Metropolitan District Railway did not at any time employ an armorial device on its rolling stock, though one was frequently displayed on its maps and timetables.

1950 June, Michael Robbins, “Heraldry of London Underground Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 381:

Nick found a set of Trollope which had a relatively modest and approachable look among the rest, and took down The Way We Live Now, with an armorial bookplate, the pages uncut.

2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 3, in The Line of Beauty […], 1st US edition, New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN:

(heraldry) Of, or relating to heraldry, or to heraldic arms.


dry fire

en-verb

dry fire (third-person singular simple present dry fires, present participle dry firing, simple past and past participle dry fired)

dry fires (present singular third-person)
dry firing (participle present)
dry fired (participle past)
dry fired (past)

(archery) To draw and release a bow without an arrow loaded.


Soca Warriors

(soccer) The Trinidad and Tobago national football team.


ball girl

(sports) A female responsible for getting the balls from off the area of play to the players.


hoik

en-noun

hoik (countable and uncountable, plural hoiks)

Possibly originally a form of hike (itself of unclear etymology).

(cricket, countable) A wild hook shot played without style.


hoik

en-verb

hoik (third-person singular simple present hoiks, present participle hoiking, simple past and past participle hoiked)

hoiks (present singular third-person)
hoiking (participle present)
hoiked (participle past)
hoiked (past)


dropper

(fishing) A fly that drops from the leaden above the bob or end fly.


stinkbait

en-noun

stinkbait (countable and uncountable, plural stinkbaits)

Deke mashed a wad of stinkbait onto the treble hook, then rinsed his fingers in the water to reduce the foul stench before lifting his beer can.

(fishing) A form of bait composed of malodorous ingredients, designed to attract fish (primarily catfish) that hunt by scent.


paternoster

/ˈpɑtəɹˌnɔstɚ/

From Middle English paternoster, pater noster, from Old English Paternoster, from Latin Pater noster (“our father”) (the first two words of the Oratio Dominica (“the Lord's prayer”)), from pater (“father”) + noster (“our”). The lift and the fishing equipment are named from their resemblance to a rosary.

A paternoster is any style of hook rig where the hook(s) are on droppers above a fixed sinker. One or two hooks are used on a paternoster rig. The droppers are tied using dropper loops tied directly in the line. The twisted dropper is an ideal knot as it stands out at right angles to the line.

2011, Jamin Forbes, “Tackle”, in Cod Cod Cod, Croydon, Vic.: Australian Fishing Network, →ISBN, page 56:

In plain terms, the paternoster is a rig with the weight at the bottom and hook traces (sometimes called snoods by sea anglers) attached above in fixed positions. Besides a tidy presentation, this arrangement allows the sea angler to try more than one bait and you'll often find paternosters with two hooks (or even three or four). Effectively this allows us to hedge our bets and try more baits (which could be the same or different types), thereby increasing the scent and attraction.

2012, Peter Kaminsky, Greg Schwipps, Dominic Garnett, Fishing for Dummies, UK edition, Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:

PATERNOSTER TWIN This rig is slightly more complicated than the single paternoster, however this rig has the added advantage of having two hooks, these can be different sizes and be baited with different baits.

2016, D[avid] A. Weaver, Sea Angling Rig Book, rev. edition, [s.l.]: M. P. Dawn Publications:

(fishing) A tackle rig with a heavy sinker at the end of the line, and one or more hooks on traces at right angles spaced above the sinker.


paternoster

en-verb

paternoster (third-person singular simple present paternosters, present participle paternostering, simple past and past participle paternostered)

paternosters (present singular third-person)
paternostering (participle present)
paternostered (participle past)
paternostered (past)

/ˈpɑtəɹˌnɔstɚ/

(fishing, transitive) To try to catch (fish, etc.) with a paternoster rig.


ball boy

(sports) A person, usually male, responsible for retrieving balls from the area of play, and returning them to the players.

aplegapilotes

A male person responsible for retrieving balls


jugline

(fishing) A kind of trotline using an empty jug (such as a bleach jug) as a float at one end of the line, the other end either free-floating or anchored with a weight.


disclosed

Azure, a harpy with her wings disclosed, her hair flotant or, armed of the same. This coat stands in Huntingdon church.

1854, Hugh Clark, Thomas Wormull, An Introduction to Heraldry, page 137:

Culcheth of Culcheth: argent, an eagle disclosed, preyant on a child in a mantle gules, wattled or. This is the crest of Stanley, well known in Lancashire as the bird and bantling.

1880, Thomas Spencer Baynes, The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature, page 700:

Guillim [in Display of Heraldry] shows another coat of arms, a shield with "a Harpey disclosed in her wings."

1967, Colin Clair, Unnatural History: An Illustrated Bestiary:

(heraldry, of wings) Expanded, spread; (of a winged creature) with its wings extended or spread.


whoop-de-doo

When Shoemaker wins or loses by a nose, it is an odds-on bet that a whoop-de-doo rider would have lost by lengths, having wasted the horse prematurely.

1988, Tom Ainslie, Ainslie's Complete Guide to Thoroughbred Racing, →ISBN, page 203:

(horse racing) A style of racing in which the jockey establishes an early lead and then runs as fast as possible.


spear gun

(fishing) A form of mechanical gun that fires a spear as a projectile; generally used under water when spearfishing.


daylight robbery

en-noun

daylight robbery (countable and uncountable, plural daylight robberies)

From daylight + robbery, originally used literally to refer to robbery occurring in the daytime rather than at night, which was thought to be more audacious or risky.

(chiefly sports, uncountable) Conduct which unfairly deprives an opponent of an advantage or a win; (countable, rare) an instance of this.


cribbing

cribbing (countable and uncountable, plural cribbings)

obsessive-compulsive disorder
obsessive-compulsive disorder

(ethology, equestrianism) A self-injurious tendency of certain horses to swallow air while slobbering and biting onto objects in and about their enclosure; cribbing and windsucking are regarded as equine forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.


double eagle

(US, numismatics) A gold coin with a face value of $20 formerly used in the United States, the double of the US eagle coin.

(golf) Three under par, one stroke short of an ace (a hole in one) on a par-five hole.

iolar dúbailte

golf: three under par, one stroke short of an ace


screening

screening (countable and uncountable, plural screenings)

→ German: Screening

→ Spanish: screening

(volleyball) Action done by the serving team to prevent the opposing team from seeing the server and the flight path of the ball.


footballer

/ˈfʊtbɔːləɹ/

It is footballers though, rather than commentators, presenters or pundits, who when interviewed have provided some of the best Colemanballs.

2004, George Best, Scoring At Half-Time: Adventures On and Off the Pitch, →ISBN, page 259:

(soccer, UK) One who plays association football.


MOTD

55 years in, save for the odd hiatus when ITV rather rudely claimed the exclusive top-flight highlights rights, MOTD represents the then, now and seemingly forever for the free-to-air armchair football fan.

2019 July 26, Adam Hurrey, “55 years in, the culturally bulletproof Match of the Day can handle the latest threat from its rivals”, in The Daily Telegraph:

(sports, television) Initialism of Match of the Day: a British football-themed television programme introduced in 1964.


varsity

varsity (countable and uncountable, plural varsities)

Mid 17th century. Clipping of univarsity, reflecting an archaic pronunciation of university.

There were sixteen of them in all, for the most part upper classmen who had failed to make the varsity the year before, with a sprinkling of sophomores and two freshmen.

1903, Ralph Henry Barbour, C. M. Relyea, Weatherby's Inning: A Story of College Life and Baseball, New York: D. Appleton and Company:

A small Pennsylvania university has only one varsity program: e-sports. Is this the future of college athletics?

2019 November 13, Luke Winkie, “Why Colleges Are Betting Big on Video Games”, in The Atlantic:

(sports, US) The principal sports team representing an institution (usually a high school, college, or university.)


nub

en-verb

nub (third-person singular simple present nubs, present participle nubbing, simple past and past participle nubbed)

nubs (present singular third-person)
nubbing (participle present)
nubbed (participle past)
nubbed (past)

Either directly from Middle Low German, or from knub, from a Middle Low German word (compare Low German Knubbel, Knobbel (“knot; lump”)). Compare knob.


roughshod

The horses fell down three times, the roads being slippery, and we walked three miles to Linlithgow. There we waited two hours, to have the fresh horses roughshod.

1814 November 10, Miss Berry [Mary Berry], edited by Lady [Maria] Theresa Lewis, Extracts of the Journals and Correspondence of Miss Berry from the year 1783 to 1852. … In Three Volumes, volume III, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1865, →OCLC, page 36:

Those who have followed a French army well know that their horses are always rough-shod. [...] Horses can bear cold when properly fed, and if they had not been rough-shod there were farriers attached to the army.

1875, C. Joyneville [pseudonym; Catherine Laura Johnstone], “The French Retreat and the Russian Pursuit”, in Life and Times of Alexander I. Emperor of All the Russias. … In Three Volumes, volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, 8, Catherine Street, Strand, →OCLC, page 227:

A horse is roughshod when the nails are left protruding out of its shoes so that the animal does not slip and fall. Consequently, being ridden over by a roughshod horse would be quite agonizing.

1996, Sandra L. Olsen, “Introduction”, in Sandra L. Olsen, editor, Horses through Time, Boulder, Colo.: Roberts Rinehart Publishers for Carnegie Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page 8:

(farriery) Of a horse: having hooves shod with horseshoes that have calks or projecting parts to prevent slipping.


snapper

(American football) The player who snaps the ball to start the play.


plunk

en-verb

plunk (third-person singular simple present plunks, present participle plunking, simple past and past participle plunked)

plunks (present singular third-person)
plunking (participle present)
plunked (participle past)
plunked (past)

The Braves retaliated by plunking Harper in the next inning.

(transitive, baseball) To intentionally hit the batter with a pitch.


hockey stick

(Canada, US, ice hockey) A stick used to handle the puck in ice hockey, having a flat, angled blade at the end.


clarion

The noun is derived from Middle English clarion, clarioun (“trumpet with a narrow tube and a shrill sound, clarion; clarion player”) [and other forms], from Old French claron, clarïon (“clarion”) [and other forms], from Medieval Latin clāriōn, clario, clārōn (“clarion; trumpet”), from Latin clārus (“audible; clear, distinct, loud; (visually) bright, clear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- (“to call, summon; to cry”).
The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun.

nb...

clarionne, clarioune, claryon, claryoun, claryoune, claryounn, claryounne, claryowne

der

(heraldry) A charge thought to represent a type of wind instrument, a keyboard instrument like a spinet, or perhaps a rest used by a knight to support a lance during jousting.


changement

(fencing) A change in the tempo or rhythm of one's actions, to mislead the opponent.


jump shot

(basketball) A shot in which the player releases the ball at the highest point of a jump.


cush

(colloquial, sports, billiards, snooker, pool) The cushion, the soft lip around the edge of the table that allows the balls to bounce cleanly.


middle ground

en-noun

middle ground (countable and uncountable, plural middle grounds)


outrigger

Modification of earlier outligger after rig (“to fit out”); equivalent to out- + ligger.

(skiing) A type of ski pole, with skis attached at the bottom, instead of the spike/pick found on a normal pole. It is used in downhill skiing variants of para-skiing, especially those that use a sit-ski, such as the monoski.


narced

en-adj

narced (comparative more narced, superlative most narced)

more narced (comparative)
most narced (superlative)

On his first dive, Ralph got really narced, and thought he was turning into a sea turtle.

While doing a test in a chamber to assess the pressure at which one will get narced seems like a great idea, it is not necessarily an indicator of who will get narced at what depth.

1996, Karen Burge, “(was: will you get narced?) maybe...maybe not”, in rec.scuba (Usenet):

There has been only one time that I felt narced and strangley it was in 127 of water.

1998, Ray Jones, “Narcosis”, in bit.listserv.scuba-l (Usenet):

2003:, uglymoney, Narcosis at 110? in rec.scuba
All went well. However I am absolutely convinced that I was narced.

(underwater diving) Exhibiting impaired judgment while scuba diving due to nitrogen narcosis.


HAHO

(parachuting) Acronym of high altitude, high opening.


air out

en-verb

air out (third-person singular simple present airs out, present participle airing out, simple past and past participle aired out)

airs out (present singular third-person)
airing out (participle present)
aired out (participle past)
aired out (past)

(American football, slang) To throw passes, especially long and high passes.


omnium

From Latin omnium (literally “of all”), genitive plural of omnis (“all, every”).

(cycling) A multiple race event in track cycling. Historically the omnium has had a variety of formats. Currently it consists of the following six events: flying lap, points race, elimination, individual pursuit, scratch race, and time trial.


rover

From Middle English roven (“to wander, to shoot an arrow randomly”) + -er.

inh

"By my hilt! no. There was little Robby Withstaff, and Andrew Salblaster, and Wat Alspaye, who broke the neck of the German. Mon Dieu! what men they were! Take them how you would, at long butts or short, hoyles, rounds, or rovers, better bowmen never twirled a shaft over their thumb-nails.

1890, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 22, in The White Company:

(archery, usually in the plural) A randomly selected target.

I went to Coach Beamer and, because we had a lot of outside linebackers, ask him if I could play rover.

2011, Frank Beamer, Always a Hokie: Players, Coaches, and Fans Share Their Passion for Virginia Tech Football:

(American football) A defensive back position whose coverage responsibilities are a hybrid of those of a cornerback, safety and linebacker.

(baseball) The tenth defensive player in slow-pitch softball.


grayscale

en-noun

grayscale (countable and uncountable, plural grayscales)

(photography) A printed strip of graduated tones used to check exposure and development times.


rock up

en-verb

rock up (third-person singular simple present rocks up, present participle rocking up, simple past and past participle rocked up)

rocks up (present singular third-person)
rocking up (participle present)
rocked up (participle past)
rocked up (past)

(climbing) To work one's way vertically up a chimney or cleft using a rocking movement.


goalless

Stevenage and Sheffield United played out a goalless draw in their League One play-off semi-final first leg.

2012 May 11, Chris Osborne, “Stevenage 0-0 Sheff Utd”, in BBC Sport:

(sports) Without goals; in which no goals have been scored; having scored no goals.


kayfabe

Unknown, but attributed to US carnival slang ("carny"), usually as a purposefully obscure variant of the admonition "be fake" formed through backslang or mangled pig Latin. Also sometimes attributed to an alteration of cave (Latin for "beware"), keep cavey ("stay alert"), or an eponymous figure named Kay Fabe or Kay Fabian.

"Jack, Gordon and I were talking about how we heard Ric Flair do an interview where he said there was no such thing as kay-fabe any more," said Blair, referring to the fact most wrestler secrets were exposed in the 1990s.

2001 April 27, Alex Marvez, "Grappling for the Right Words?", South Florida Sun-Sentinel, p. 44

Suddenly, I heard a shout behind me: "Kayfabe! Kayfabe!" It was Gagne, freaking out and twitching and gesturing. He was afraid that some of the marks would see us in such close proximity and wonder why I wasn't choking out Wahoo with the velvet rope leading to the reservation counter, or carving him up with the ticket agent's pen. The thing was that, with the exception of the AWA guys, the terminal was empty.

2006, Eldridge Wayne Coleman & al., Tangled Ropes, p. 143

I've been breaking kayfabe a lot lately and it's bad, completely unprofessional.

2013, Saul Lemerond, "Cowboys in Rainbow City", Kayfabe & Other Stories, p. 45

(professional wrestling) The act, situation, or code of portraying staged events, performances, rivalries, etc as authentic or spontaneous.


kayfabe

My wife... currently serves as a Florida State Senator... My kayfabe wife has enormous fake breasts, bleach blonde hair, and a nose that is too small for her face.

2013, Saul Lemerond, "Cowboys in Rainbow City", Kayfabe & Other Stories, pp. 43–4

(professional wrestling) Of or related to kayfabe, especially forbidden to mention or show in order to maintain kayfabe.


kayfabe

kayfabe (third-person singular simple present kayfabes, present participle kayfabing, simple past and past participle kayfabed)

kayfabes (present singular third-person)
kayfabing (participle present)
kayfabed (participle past)
kayfabed (past)

...Mascaras was never one of the boys. Here's an example: after his matches, he'd shower with his mask on. I understand protecting your image, but the guy was kayfabing us.

2006, Eldridge Wayne Coleman & al., Tangles Ropes, p. 97

He joked around with me and had me laughing so hard that it was tough not to feel silly about being "kayfabed.

2013, Julie Hart, Hart Strings, →ISBN, page 54:

(professional wrestling) To maintain kayfabe, to deceive by staying in character.


teamsheet

(sports) A document that lists the current or proposed members of a team.


back pass

(soccer) An intentional pass to the goalkeeper by a teammate.


waza-ari

(judo) a throw in which the opponent is thrown with control and accuracy, but not to the extent of an ippon, or held on the back for between 20 and 25 seconds on the mat; the score of half a point awarded for this throw

wazari

a judo throw in which the opponent is thrown with control and accuracy


weights

(weightlifting) Any collection of weighted objects, such as dumbbells or barbells, used for exercise and training the muscles.


quadrille

French, in sense of “group of knights”, from Spanish cuadrilla, diminutive of cuadra (“square”) (compare also cuadra (“four”)), from Latin quadra.

The movements of the other women were more or less similar to Tess's, the whole bevy of them drawing together like dancers in a quadrille at the completion of a sheaf by each, every one placing her sheaf on end against those of the rest, till a shock, or 'stitch' as it was here called, of ten or a dozen was formed.

1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume II, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC:

(dance) A dance originating in the mid-1700s with four couples forming a square, rather much like the modern square dance.


centrepin

(fishing) a fishing reel consisting of a revolving drum with attached handles


ippon

Borrowed from Japanese 一本 (“one full point”).

(martial arts, judo) The highest score in judo, awarded for a throw that places the opponent on their back with impetus or for holding the opponent on their back for a number of seconds.


heptathlete

“Heptathlon is very geared and favorable to those who are quick,” said Gray’s coach, Andy Eggerth, who trains both heptathletes and decathletes. “A lot of world-class heptathletes are relatively bad at javelin and shot-put.”

2021 June 7, Shauna Farnell, “An Olympic Hurdle: Why Is the Decathlon Only for Men?”, in The New York Times:

He comes from a family of athletes: Greg, his father, was an elite vaulter for the U.S. Helena, his Swedish mother, was an international heptathlete and volleyball player.

2024 May 8, Liam Tharme, “Mondo Duplantis: Breaking down the biomechanics behind the best-ever pole vaulter”, in The New York Times:

(athletics) An athlete who competes in the heptathlon.


pentathlete

In Tokyo, that led to accusations of abuse after a German pentathlete and medal contender, Annika Schleu, was assigned a stubborn horse that refused to jump at all.

2021 March 11, Victor Mather, “Modern Pentathlon Drops Equestrian Competition After Abuse Claims”, in The New York Times:

While the pentathletes at the Paris Games are indeed riding horses over a series of jumps as part of the event, they will face an entirely different fifth discipline when they get to Los Angeles in 2028: a race the organizers are calling a “‘Ninja Warrior’-style obstacle course.”

2024 October 8, Sarah Lyall, “Dear Pentathletes: Enjoy Your Last Ride. Get Ready for the Obstacle Course.”, in The New York Times:

(athletics) An athlete who competes in the pentathlon.


biathlete

(sports) An athlete who competes in the biathlon.


cornice

From Middle French corniche or Italian cornice, from Latin cornīx (“crow”).

Looking to the east we could see Api and the mountains of west Nepal, shapely snow peaks in the distance, while in the immediate foreground, much lower but still dramatic, were the peaks of Panch Chuli IV and V (III was hidden by the lip of a huge cornice), Telkot and Nagling, all of them unclimbed, all steep and challenging.

1999, Harish Kapadia, “Ascents in the Panch Chuli Group”, in Across Peaks & Passes in Kumaun Himalaya, New Delhi: Indus Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 136:

(geography, mountaineering) An overhanging edge of snow on a ridge or the crest of a mountain and along the sides of gullies.


come on

come on (third-person singular simple present comes on, present participle coming on, simple past came on, past participle come on)

comes on (present singular third-person)
coming on (participle present)
came on (past)
come on (participle past)

Blackburn made their third and final substitution with 25 minutes remaining, with Brett Emerton coming on for Dunn as they looked for ways to stem the Newcastle tide.

2011 February 12, Nabil Hassan, “Blackburn 0-0 Newcastle”, in BBC:

One of few positives from a Burnley perspective was a first appearance of the season for forward Michael Obafemi, who came on with five minutes remaining after recovering from a long-term hamstring injury

2023 November 11, Matthew Howarth, “Arsenal 3-1 Burnley”, in BBC Sport:

(sports, of a substitute) To enter the playing field.


downshift

The noun is derived from down (preposition) + shift (“slight change or movement”). The verb is derived from the noun.

compound

The driver, Lindsay, gave me a regal wave at the top after he had completed a series of perfect downshifts[.]

2000, Bob Foster, Birdum or Bust!, Henley Beach, SA: Seaview Press, page 197:

(automotive, cycling) A shift of a transmission into a lower gear, as dictated by heavier load on the engine, as for example when climbing a hill or strongly accelerating.


downshift

en-verb

downshift (third-person singular simple present downshifts, present participle downshifting, simple past and past participle downshifted)

downshifts (present singular third-person)
downshifting (participle present)
downshifted (participle past)
downshifted (past)

zwalniać

to change one’s career or lifestyle to one which is not as well paid but less stressful and more personally rewarding

落波

to shift the transmission of a car or bicycle into a lower gear

He brought the car to a stop before the bridge, downshifted and then put her at the road again in a rising disciplined snarl along the N.6 to Cannes.

a. 1962, Ernest Hemingway, chapter 27, in The Garden of Eden, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1986, →ISBN, page 229:

(automotive, cycling) To shift (a car or bicycle) into a lower gear.

In a stick-shift vehicle, the driver must downshift when necessary; in an automatic, the transmission downshifts as needed.

(automotive, cycling) To shift a transmission into a lower gear.


goalpost

/ˈɡəʊlpəʊst/

Some kids were having a kickabout on the grass beside the walkway, cheering, groaning, calling for the ball, absorbed in the game, a self-contained universe marked out by jackets for goalposts and invisible touchlines.

2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 107:

(sports) One of the two vertical side poles of a goal.

(sports, American football) The tall Y-shaped upright, now usually of fiberglass, at either end of the playing field, through which a football must go in order for a field goal to be scored. (They were originally H-shaped, with one wooden post on either side.)


chequered flag

[Alt: Checkered flag]
*(flag): From the pattern found on the flag signalling the end of a race.
*(victory): In motor racing, an official waves a black and white chequered flag to signify the end of the race, starting with waving at the leading vehicle.

(motor racing) A black-and-white chequered flag which signifies the end of a race.

As well as the livery Perkins had when claiming three chequered flags at Mount Panorama, Russel Ingall's 'Silver Bullet' and the #6 Castrol Edge Ford Performance Racing Falcon driven by Mark Winterbottom are also on the short list.

2019, Anya Whitelaw, “Rick Kelly's fans can vote on the livery he will use in the Bathurst 1000”, in Western Advocate:


indented

en-adj

indented (comparative more indented, superlative most indented)

more indented (comparative)
most indented (superlative)

an indented border or ordinary

(heraldry) Notched like the part of a saw consisting of the teeth; serrated.


denivelation

(caving) the difference in level (depth) between two parts of a cave system, usually the highest and lowest known point. depth is the distance between the cave entrance and the lowest known point reached. denivelation is less than or equal to depth

(hiking, cycling, trail running) the difference in level between the highest and lowest part of the track, regardless of starting or ending point

hiking; trail running; hiking; trail running


dragnet

From drag + net, probably based on the model of Middle English draynet, dreynett (“dragnet”), Old English dræġnet, dræġnett (“dragnet”), equivalent to dray + net. Cognate with Swedish dragnät, Norwegian dragnett, from Icelandic dragnet.

Anchovy dragnets are an important part Korea's fishing sector. Over 99% of catches found in anchovy dragnets are anchovy. Although the annual total catches of anchovy have fluctuated, dragnets catch 55 to 70% of the total annual catch of anchovy. The remaining portion is caught with drift gill nets (10%) and other fishing methods.

2000, Transition to Responsible Fisheries Economic and Policy Implications, OECD Publishing, →ISBN, page 228:

(fishing) A net dragged across the bottom of a body of water.


dragnet

en-verb

dragnet (third-person singular simple present dragnets, present participle dragnetting, simple past and past participle dragnetted)

dragnets (present singular third-person)
dragnetting (participle present)
dragnetted (participle past)
dragnetted (past)

When ponds are cleaned out periodically, fish are trapped or dragnetted and finally the pond is drained to remove all fish.

2013, Brian Andrews, Ornamental Fish Farming:

(fishing, transitive) To drag a net across the bottom of a body of water.


mercy rule

(sports) A rule that ends a one-sided contest prior to its natural conclusion.


empty the bench

empty the bench (third-person singular simple present empties the bench, present participle emptying the bench, simple past and past participle emptied the bench)

empties the bench (present singular third-person)
emptying the bench (participle present)
emptied the bench (participle past)
emptied the bench (past)

(US, sports) to remove the varsity players from a game and insert junior varsity players. Usually happens toward the end of a one-sided contest.


shadowed

[...] 2d and 3d Gules, a Man's Heart proper, Shadowed Or, betwixt three Cinquefoils Ermine, for Hamilton […]

1722, Alexander Nisbet, A System of Heraldry Speculative and Practical, page 394:

The supporters have rede collares about there nekes "bordered with gold, and are vert" shadowed gules and blew, proper, like parates.

1862, Thomas Tonge, Heraldic Visitation of the Northern Counties in 1530, page 27:

Consequently, a month later, by the Maid's desire, the King gave to Guy de Cailly a grant of new arms on a field azure, three heads of cherubim, winged, bearded in flame-colour, which is or shadowed with gules.

Armorial bearings (L.O., 1678-9) Quarterly 1 and 4, gules a mullet argent between three cinquefoils ermine; 2 and 3 gules, a man's heart proper shadowed or, between three cinquefoils ermine, all within a bordure argent[…]

1910, Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, Armorial Families: A Directory of Gentlemen of Coat-armour, page 116:

(heraldry) Depicted with shading, as if showing areas in shadow.


lapping

en-noun

lapping (countable and uncountable, plural lappings)

From Middle English lapping, lappyng, lappinge, equivalent to lap + -ing.

(lutherie) Lengths of fine silk, metal wire, or whalebone wrapped tightly around the stick of the bow of a string instrument adjacent to the leather part of the bow grip at the heel.


goalbound

Liverpool did have one moment of danger in the first half when Chelsea failed to clear Glen Johnson's cross and Branislav Ivanovic blocked Craig Bellamy's goalbound shot.

2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) Likely to enter the goal, but for the intervention of defenders and the goalkeeper.


color commentator

color commentator (plural color commentators)

From color (“detail or flavour”) + commentator.

af

(US, sports) At a sporting event, a member of the radio or television announcing team who assists a play-by-play announcer. Provides insight into strategy, player performance, background information, etc., and often light humor.


morne

non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger


ring rat

(professional wrestling, slang) A promiscuous person, often a young female, who attends professional wrestling events primarily to seek sexual liaisons with wrestlers and other performers.


ham-and-egger

From boxing, where a poor boxer would only win enough money to pay for meals; ham and egg + -er.

(wrestling slang) A preliminary wrestler; a jobber.

Well, it's just that, you see, uh, I fight in clubs, you know, and uh, I'm really a ham-and-egger. This guy, he's the best, and uh, it wouldn't be such a good fight.

1976 November 21, Rocky, spoken by Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone):


vair

en-noun

vair (countable and uncountable, plural vairs)

From Middle English veir, veire, from Old French vair, veir, from the accusative singular masculine form of Latin varius (“variegated”).

(heraldry) An heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of bell shapes in two colours, (for example in the image, blue and white).


continuous clock

continuous clock (plural continuous clocks)

(sports) A clock, especially in American football, that operates continuously in a one-sided game, so as to hasten the end of the contest.


debased

en-adj

debased (comparative more debased, superlative most debased)

more debased (comparative)
most debased (superlative)

For quotations using this term, see Citations:debased.

(heraldry) Abased, abaissé: (of a charge) borne lower than usual.


black spot

(snooker) The spot on a snooker table where the black ball is normally placed.


gold rush

/ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ/

/ˈɡoʊldˌɹʌʃ/

From gold + rush. First use appears c. 1848 in the Oregon Spectator.

(informal, sports) The urge to win gold medals, as in the Olympic Games.


blasting

From Middle English blastyng, blastynge, equivalent to blast + -ing (gerundive ending).

Coordinate term: cruising

(bodybuilding, slang) Administering full dosage of PEDs as opposed to lowering them during times of so-called cruising.


circuit slugger

en-noun

circuit slugger (plural circuit sluggers)

Gil Hodges became the greatest circuit slugger ever to wear Dodger flannels.

(baseball, idiomatic) A talented baseball batter who hits home runs.


third string

(sports) A unit of players that plays behind the first and second strings; a junior varsity team.


box out

en-verb

box out (third-person singular simple present boxes out, present participle boxing out, simple past and past participle boxed out)

boxes out (present singular third-person)
boxing out (participle present)
boxed out (participle past)
boxed out (past)

(basketball) To position oneself between an opposition player and the basket in anticipation of getting a rebound.


run-off

en-noun

run-off (countable and uncountable, plural run-offs)

Twelve laps later, Leclerc locked up at the first chicane and clattered over the run-off area. Again, Hamilton got a run on him, and this time Leclerc defended robustly through the flat-out Curva Grande, moving very late to block Hamilton to the Ferrari's left.

2019 September 8, Andrew Benson, BBC Sport:

(motor racing) A run-off area; a paved area around the track at a spot that drivers are likely to go off, as opposed to a gravel trap, grass or a barrier.


jobber

(professional wrestling slang) A performer whose primary role is to lose to established talent.


mercy killing

(sports) In sports, a premature ending of a one-sided game or contest due to a mercy rule.


coping

From cope (sense 2), used in the sense "dress in a cope," "to cover."

(falconry) Clipping the beak or talons of a bird.


interception

interception (countable and uncountable, plural interceptions)

Borrowed from Latin interceptiō; compare French interception.

(American football) A passing play where the ball is caught by the opposing team.

(rugby) A pass that is intercepted by an opposing player.


town ball

(softball) A non-varsity softball team, typically played by youths (usually girls) under the age of 18. Frequently played in small cities and towns, sponsored by a local business and coached by volunteers.


tomato can

Presumably because of tendency to bleed when battered, tomato juice leaking from a can being a metaphor for bleeding.

(slang, boxing, derogatory) An inferior fighter in the sport of boxing. The insinuation is that an up-and-coming fighter takes on a "tomato can" to burnish his reputation and record.

(slang, sports) By extension, an opponent who presents little challenge.

(slang, boxing) A boxer who takes a dive, or loses a fight on purpose.


floryshe

(martial arts) In the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts, an unstructured practice routine of guard transitions, cuts, thrusts, slices and parries with appropriate footwork; an expression of techniques already learned in an original way.


ISL

Indian Super League
w:Indian Super League

(sports) Initialism of Indian Super League.


turn around

en-verb

turn around (third-person singular simple present turns around, present participle turning around, simple past and past participle turned around)

turns around (present singular third-person)
turning around (participle present)
turned around (participle past)
turned around (past)

kääntää

idiomatic: to effect a positive reversal of a trend

The new management team has really turned the company around 180 degrees, and they expect a good profit next year.

The team really turned it around in the second half for a great win.

They were way ahead but the game turned around on them and they lost 4–3.

It took changes from Wenger and a rare defensive lapse from Everton before Arsenal finally turned the game around with two goals in the space of five minutes.

2011 February 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 2-1 Everton”, in BBC:

Pollard, who went into the semifinals with an unsatisfactory 63% return from the kicking tee, turned it around splendidly against Wales and he continued that form despite missing his first attempt in the final.

2019 November 3, Liam de Carme, “Boks, you beauties”, in Sunday Times:

(transitive, business, management, sports) To reverse an expected outcome (of a game, etc.), usually from a losing outcome to a winning one; to return (a business, department, etc.) to effectiveness, profitability, etc.

kääntää + accusative + edukseen (transitive, of games; positive)


rough up the bullpen

rough up the bullpen (third-person singular simple present roughs up the bullpen, present participle roughing up the bullpen, simple past and past participle roughed up the bullpen)

roughs up the bullpen (present singular third-person)
roughing up the bullpen (participle present)
roughed up the bullpen (participle past)
roughed up the bullpen (past)

The strong baseball team really roughed up the bullpen in their 34-0 rout against their foes; the coach used nine relievers and they still couldn't get anybody out.

(baseball, of the offensive team) To manage easily to hit pitching by the starting and relief pitchers of the opposing team, despite the types of pitches thrown or the skill of the pitchers.


plating

From Middle English *platynge, from Old English platung (“plate, thin piece of metal”), equivalent to plate + -ing.

inh

(philately) An act of determining where a postage stamp is positioned on a sheet.


extended playing time

Once the No. 1 team football built an early 56-0 lead in the game against their weak opponents, the coach - wanting to spare the opponent further embarrassment, to keep his top players from being injured and sensing his own younger players needed experience - decided to give his reserves some well-deserved extended playing time.

(sports) In a one-sided sporting contest, when junior varsity players (i.e., second- and third-string players) play a majority of a varsity game.