Now updated for CSW15. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
aboard | on base. |
assist | a play by a FIELDER that makes it possible for a batter or runner to be put out. |
backstop | a fence or wall behind home plate; also a CATCHER. |
balk | a penalty for an illegal movement by the pitcher. The rule is designed to prevent pitchers from deliberately deceiving the runners. If called, BASERUNNERS advance one base. |
ballyard | a baseball ground. |
barehand | to field the ball with bare hands rather than gloves. |
base | one of the four points of the baseball diamond (first through third bases and home plate) that must be touched by a runner in order to score a run. |
baseball | a team game, played nine-a-side with bat and ball, the players on the batting side attempting to score runs by progressing around four bases on the field; a ball used for this. |
baseballer | one who plays baseball. |
baseline | the shortest path between two bases. |
baseman | a player positioned near a base. N.B. no BASEWOMAN* or BASEPERSON*. |
basepath | a baserunner's path between bases > BASEPATHS. |
baserunner | a baseball player of the team on bat who is on base or trying to reach base. |
baserunning | attempting to perform a circuit of the bases. |
batboy | a boy who minds baseball equipment. |
batgirl | a girl who works at baseball games. |
batter | the offensive player who is currently positioned in the batter's box. |
battery | the pitcher and catcher. |
beanball | a baseball thrown at the head. |
bleacherite | one who sits in the BLEACHERS, uncovered seats. |
bleachers | uncovered seats at a baseball stadium. |
bloop | to hit (a baseball) so that it only just clears the infield. |
blooper | a hit that carries the ball just clear of the infield. |
bloopy | Being a hit that is a short fly ball > BLOOPIER, BLOOPIEST. |
box | the batter's standing place. |
brushback | a FASTBALL intentionally thrown near the batter's head or body. |
bullpen | an area designated for pitchers to warm-up. Generally consists of two mounds and two home plates. |
bunt | to block a ball with the bat, rather than swing at it, usually to allow a BASERUNNER to advance. |
busher | a minor league baseball player. |
cage | an enclosed area used for batting practice. |
catcher | the defensive player whose position is directly behind home plate. |
changeup | a type of baseball pitch. |
cornerman | the first baseman. |
cork | to illegally put a lighter material inside the bat. |
curveball | a baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it curve; (verb) to throw such a ball. |
diamond | a baseball field, or the part between bases. |
dinger | a home run. |
donut | a circular shaped weight that slides over the bat, used when loosening up. |
double | a play in which the batter makes it safely to second base without stopping. |
doubleheader | two games, contests or events held consecutively on the same program. |
dugout | the seating area for team members not currently on the playing field. |
duster dustoff | a BRUSHBACK, a FASTBALL intentionally thrown near the batter's head or body. |
fadeaway | a type of PITCH. |
fastball | in baseball, a high-speed, rising delivery from the pitcher. |
fastballer | one who delivers FASTBALLS. |
fielder fieldsman | one who runs after the ball to bring it back. |
fireballer | a baseball pitcher known for throwing FASTBALLS. |
fireballing | (adj.) denoting a FIREBALLER. |
fireman | a relief pitcher in baseball. |
forceout | a play by which a runner in baseball is forced out > FORCEOUTS. |
forkball | a pitch thrown by placing the ball between the first two fingers, usually resulting in a sinking ball. |
fungo | a ball struck high into the air to give fielders practice in baseball > FUNGOES; (verb) to toss a ball upwards and hit it as it descends > FUNGOS, FUNGOING, FUNGOED . |
gopher | a ball hit for a home run. |
grounder | a ball hit in the infield by the batter that bounces in the infield. |
groundout | a play in which a batter is given out after hitting a GROUNDER to an INFIELDER. |
hardball | baseball. |
homer | a home run; (verb) to hit a home run. |
horsehide | the ball used in baseball. |
infield | the diamond-shaped portion of the playing field bordered by the four bases. |
infielder infieldsman | one who plays in the infield. |
inning | that portion of the game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three outs for each team. Each team's time at bat is a half-inning. |
kickball | a child's game similar to baseball. |
knuckleball knuckler | a type of pitch with an unpredictable trajectory, caused by gripping the ball with the fingertips. |
knuckleballer | a player who delivers knuckleballs. |
midfield | a fielding position. |
midfielder | a player who fields midfield. |
mitt | a padded leather glove worn by a baseball player. |
mound | the hill the PITCHER stands on to pitch. |
nightcap | the second game of a DOUBLEHEADER. |
outcurve | a type of pitch in baseball. N.B. not a verb. |
outfield | the portion of the playing field that extends beyond the INFIELD and is bordered by the first and third baselines. |
outfielder | a fielder who occupies a position in the OUTFIELD. |
outhomer | to surpass in hitting home runs. |
outpitch | to surpass in pitching. |
palmball | a ball pitched from the palm and thumb > PALMBALLS. |
pennant | a flag awarded for victory in a game, championship etc. |
pickoff | a play in baseball. |
pitch | to throw the ball to the batter. |
pitcher | the fielder designated to pitch the ball to the BATTER. |
pitchout | a pitch thrown wide of the strike zone on purpose. A catcher will signal for a pitchout if they think that a runner is trying to steal (I assume this means sneak between bases with nobody noticing). |
popout | a type of out in baseball > POPOUTS. |
putout | in scoring, a fielder is credited with a putout if he receives the ball to put out a baserunner or a hitter. |
rainout | the cancellation of a baseball game due to rain. |
ribbie | a run batted in > RIBBIES. |
sabermetrics | the statistical analysis of baseball data. |
screwball | a ball delivered with spin. |
shag | to chase after balls hit into the air, as part of fielding practice. |
shortstop | the fielding position (or the defending player positioned) between the second and third base. |
slider | a pitch that breaks in a horizontal plane. |
slugger | a BATTER who specialises in hitting home runs. |
slurve | a type of pitch in baseball > SLURVES. |
softball | an American game similar to baseball. |
southpaw | a left-handed PITCHER. |
spitball spitter | a baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance. |
squibber | an infield grounder that becomes a base hit > SQUIBBERS. |
stickball | baseball adapted for play in streets, using a broom handle and a lightweight ball. |
stoopball | a variation of baseball. |
strike | a legal pitch at which the batter swings and misses, or misplays in various other ways. |
strikeout | an out in baseball resulting from a batsman's being charged with three STRIKES. |
tag | to put out a runner by touching him or her with the ball or the hand holding the ball. |
tater | a home run. |
triple | a play in which the batter makes it safely to third base without stopping. |
twinight | denoting a set of two baseball games, the first played in the late afternoon and the second in the evening of the same day. |
whiff | a STRIKEOUT. |
wheelhouse | a hitter's power zone. |
yacker yakker | a CURVEBALL. |