knuckleball
knuckleball Lexical Profile
knuckleball Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American In baseball, a slow pitch thrown with the knuckles or fingertips dug into the ball so as to minimize spin, causing it to follow an erratic, unpredictable trajectory toward the batter.
"The veteran pitcher relied on his signature knuckleball to baffle opposing hitters well into his forties."
In soccer and other ball sports, a shot or pass struck cleanly near the center of the ball so that it travels through the air with almost no spin and swerves unpredictably.
"The midfielder struck a fierce knuckleball from thirty yards out that dipped sharply beneath the crossbar."
• verb
To move erratically through the air with little or no spin, or to throw or kick a ball in such a manner.
"The free kick knuckleballed past the diving goalkeeper into the top corner of the net."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in early 20th-century American baseball from 'knuckle' and 'ball', referring to the early pitching technique of gripping the baseball with the knuckles rather than the fingertips to eliminate spin.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.