handball
handball Lexical Profile
handball Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A fast-paced team sport played on an indoor court in which two teams of seven players pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the opposing team.
"European national teams have historically dominated Olympic handball tournaments."
A court game in which two or four players use their hands to strike a small, hard rubber ball against a wall so that it rebounds into play.
"They met at the community recreation center every Saturday morning for a competitive match of handball."
In soccer, an infraction in which an outfield player intentionally touches or propels the ball with their hand or arm.
"The referee awarded a penalty kick after calling a handball inside the eighteen-yard box."
The small rubber ball or the larger inflated leather ball used in the various games of handball.
"The sports equipment locker contained several spare handballs and a set of goal nets."
• verb
Australian To pass the ball in Australian rules football by holding it in one hand and punching it with the clenched fist of the other hand.
"Under pressure from two tacklers, the midfielder quickly handballed to an unmarked teammate."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Attested since the late 14th century, the word is a compound of 'hand' and 'ball', originally referring to various traditional ball games played by striking a ball with the palm of the hand.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.