Abbreviations of Ruling Bodies and Administrative Organizations

Below are some of the many abbreviations
used for the various sports ruling bodies and
administrative organizations, whether international
or national. Abbreviations with their own
entries in the book are printed in bold (e.g.
AFL). Translations of foreign titles are provided.
AAA
AFC
AFL
AIBA (boxing) Association Internationale de Boxe
Amateur (International Amateur Boxing Association)
ATP (tennis) Association of Tennis Professionals
BHA
BWF (badminton) Badminton World Federation
CFU (Canadian football ) Canadian Football League
CIPS (angling) Confédération Internationale de
Pêche Sportive (International Sport Fishing Confederation)
CMSB (boules) Confédération Mondiale de Sports
Boules (World Boules Confederation)
ECB
FA
FAI (ballooning, gliding, parachuting) Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale (International Aeronautical
Association)
FEI (equestrianism) Fédération Équestre Internationale
(International Equestrian Federation)
FFPB (pelota) Fédération Française de la Pelote
Basque (International Pelota Federation)
FIA (auto racing) Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile
(International Automobile Federation)
FIB (bandy) Federation of International Bandy
FIBA (basketball ) Fédération Internationale de Basketball
(International Basketball Federation)
FIBT (bobsledding) Fédération Internationale de
Bobsleigh et Toboganning (International Bobsleigh
and Toboganning Federation)
FIE (fencing) Fédération Internationale d’Escrime
(International Fencing Federation)
FIFA
FIG (g ymnastics, trampolining) Fédération Internationale
de Gymnastique (International Gymnastics
Federation)
FILA (wrestling) Fédération Internationale de Lutte
Amateur (International Wrestling Federation)
FIM (motorcycle racing) Fédération Internationale
de Motocyclisme (International Motorcycling
Federation)
FINA (swimming, water polo) Fédération Internationale
de Natation (International Swimming
Federation)
FIP (polo) Federation of International Polo
FIPV (pelota) Federación Internacional de Pelota
Vasca (International Pelota Federation)
FIQ (tenpin bowling) Fédération Internationale des
Quilleurs (International Skittles Federation)
FIRS (roller hockey, roller skating) Fédération Internationale
de Roller Sports (International
Roller Sports Federation)
FIS (skiing, snowboarding) Fédération Internationale
de Ski (International Ski Federation)
FISA (rowing) Fédération Internationale des Sociétés
d’Aviron (International Rowing Federation)
FITA (archery) Fédération Internationale de Tir à
l’Arc (International Archery Federation)
FIVB (volleyball ) Fédération Internationale de Volley-
ball (International Volleyball Federation)
GHA (hurling) Gaelic Athletic Association
IAAF (athletics) International Association of Athletics
Associations
IAF (aikido) International Aikido Federation
IBAF (baseball ) International Baseball Federation
IBF (boxing) International Boxing Federation
177
Appendix:
Abbreviations of Ruling Bodies
and Administrative Organizations
IBSF (snooker) International Billiards and Snooker
Federation
ICC
ICF (canoeing) International Canoe Federation
IFNA (netball ) International Federation of Netball
Associations
IFWLA (lacrosse) International Federation of
Women’s Lacrosse Associations
IHF (1) (field hockey) International Hockey Federation;
(2) (handball ) International Handball
Federation
IIHF (ice hockey) International Ice Hockey Federation
IJF (judo) International Judo Federation
IKF (1) (kendo) International Kendo Federation;
(2) (korf ball ) International Korf ball Federation
ILF (lacrosse) International Lacrosse Federation
IOC
IOF (orienteering) International Orienteering Federation
IRB (rugby union) International Rugby Board
IRF (racquetball ) International Racquetball Federation
ISA (surfing) International Surfing Association
ISAF (sailing, windsurfing) International Sailing
Federation
ISDRA (sled dog racing) International Sled Dog
Racing Association
ISF (1) (skateboarding) International Skateboarding
Federation; (2) (softball ) International Softball
Federation
ISJA (ju-jitsu) International Sport Ju-jitsu Association
ISSF (shooting) International Shooting Sport Federation
ISU (ice skating) International Skating Union
ITTF (table tennis) International Table Tennis Federation
IWF (weightlifting) International Weightlifting
Federation
IWUF (kung fu) International Wushu Federation
JJIF (ju-jitsu) Ju-jitsu International Federation
JSA (sumo) Japan Sumo Association
MCC
MLB (baseball ) Major League Baseball
NBA (basketball ) National Basketball Association
NCAA (American football ) National Collegiate
Athletic Association
NFC
NFL
NHL
NPA (paddleball ) National Paddleball Association
NRA (rounders) Natinal Rounders Association
PBA (bowls) Professional Bowls Association
R&A
RFL (rugby league) Rugby Football League
RFU (rugby union) Rugby Football Union
RORC (sailing) Royal Ocean Racing Club
RYA (powerboat racing) Royal Yachting Association
T&RA (rackets, real tennis) Tennis and Rackets Association
UCI (cycling) Union Cycliste Internationale (International
Cycling Union)
UEFA
UIAA (mountaineering) Union Internationale des
Associations d’Alpinisme (International Union
of Mountaineering Associations)
UMB (billiards) Union Mondiale de Billard (World
Billiards Union)
USGA (golf ) United States Golf Association
USPTA (paddle tennis) United States Paddle Tennis
Association
WAKO (kickboxing) World Association of Kickboxing
Associations
WBA (boxing) World Boxing Association
WBC (boxing) World Boxing Council
WBO (boxing) World Boxing Organization
WCBS (billiards) World Confederation of Billiard
Sports
WCF (1) (croquet) World Croquet Federation; (2)
(curling) World Curling Federation
WDF (darts) World Darts Federation
WGRF (greyhound racing) World Greyhound Racing
Federation
WIBC (bowls) World Indoor Bowls Council
WKF (1) (kabaddi) World Kabaddi Federation; (2)
(karate) World Karate Federation
WPA (billiards, pool ) World Pool-Billiards Association
WPBSA (snooker) World Professional Billiards and
Snooker Association
WSF (1) (snooker) World Snooker Federation;
(squash) World Squash Federation
WTF (tae kwon do) World Taekwondo Federation
Appendix 178

sport terms dictionary Z class

Zamboni (ice hockey) proprietary name of a machine
used to clean, resurface, and smooth the ice
on a rink [invented in 1949 by Frank J. Zamboni
(1901–1988)]
zebra (American football ) colloquial term for a
member of the officiating team [from their
black-and-white striped shirts]
Zebras (association football ) nickname of the Italian
club Juventus [from the team’s black-andwhite
striped shirts]
zero tackle (rugby league) an additional tackle
awarded at the beginning of the standard set of
six, awarded after a knock-on or a forward pass
zip ( general ) to beat a team without allowing them
to score
zippers (American football ) the permanent scars
that disfigure the bodies of many players as a result
of tough contact play
zonal marking ( general ) another term for zone
defense
zone (ice hockey) one of the three equal parts of the
playing area, as the center or neutral zone, attacking
zone, and defending zone
zone defense (American football, association football
) a method of defense in which a player patrols
a particular area of the field rather than
mark a specific opponent; (basketball) a method
of defense in which a player patrols a particular
area of the court rather than mark a specific opponent;
(ice hockey) a method of defense in
which a player patrols a particular area of the
rink rather than mark a specific opponent
zoo (surfing) colloquial term for a crowded lineup
zooter (cricket) a ball bowled by a leg spinner that
does not spin but dips late in flight to the batsman
[apparently a random word]
zorb ( general ) a large transparent ball containing
a smaller ball within which a person is secured
and then rolled along the ground, down hills,
and the like [apparently a random word, perhaps
meant to evoke a science-fiction creation]
zorbing ( general ) the extreme sport of traveling
in a zorb
Zamboni • zorbing 176

sport terms dictionary Y class

yacht (sailing) a sailing vessel equipped for racing
[Dutch jacht, formerly jagt, from jagen, “to
chase”]
yacht club (sailing) a club for yacht owners or participants
in yacht races
yacht race (sailing) a race among yachts
yacht racing (sailing) the competitive racing of
yachts
yachting (sport) a former alternate term for sailing,
officially dropped for competitions in 2000
yachtsman (sailing) a person who owns or sails a
yacht
yachtswoman (sailing) a woman who sails in a
yacht
yahoo (cricket) an exuberant (but not always successful)
attempt to hit the ball hard
yakker (baseball ) colloquial term for a curveball
Yankee (horse racing) a multiple bet on four horses
in four races, consisting of six doubles. four trebles,
and an accumulator
Yankee Stadium (baseball ) the home ground of
the New York Yankees team in the Bronx, New
York City
Yankees (baseball ) short name of the New York
Yankees team
yard (horse racing) the stables, grounds, and facilities
owned by a trainer; (sailing) a long beam on
a mast for spreading sails
yard-on (bowls) a heavy shot to break up or disturb
the head
yardage (American football, golf) a distance measured
in yards
Yarmouth (horse racing) a flat racecourse near
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
yaw (sailing) to deviate temporarily from a course
yearling (horse racing) a racehorse that is officially
one year old, as calculated from January 1 in its
year of foaling
yell ( general ) a rhythmic cheer or chant, often containing
nonsense words or syllables, used to encourage
sports teams, as in college football
yellow (snooker) the yellow ball, worth two points
yellow card (association football ) a card shown to
a player by the referee as an official warning after
an infringement; (rugby league, rugby union) a
card shown to a player by the referee following
an infringement and sending him to the sin
bin
yellow flag (auto racing) a flag waved to show that
there is danger ahead and that there must be no
overtaking
yellow jersey (cycling) (1) the jersey worn by the
leader in the general classification at the end of
particular day in the Tour de France [French
maillot jaune, “yellow jersey”]; (2) a similar jersey
in the Tour of Britain
yellow spot (snooker) the spot on the billiard table
where the yellow is positioned, in the right corner
of the D (viewed from the balk end)
yielding (horse racing) a category of going
yipper ( golf ) a golfer suffering from the yips
yips ( golf ) nervous twitching caused by tension
before playing a putt [a word coined by Scottish
professional Tommy Armour in the
1920s]
Yngling (sailing) a class of keelboat sailed by a crew
of three [Norwegian yngling, “youngster”]
yoko-shiho-gatame (judo) a hold from the side in
which a combatant pins his opponent’s shoulders
and hips to the ground [Japanese yoko,
“side,” “across,” shiho (from shi, “four,” and ho,
“direction”), and katame, “to lock”]
yokozuna (sumo) a grand champion, as the highest
rank of wrestler [Japanese yoko, “across,” and
tsuna, “rope,” from the garland originally presented
to a champion]
Yonkers Futurity (horse racing) an annual harness
race for three-year-old trotters, first held in 1958
at Yonkers, New York
york (cricket) to dismiss a batsman by bowling a
yorker
York (archery) a round of 72 arrows for men at
100yds (91m), 48 at 80yds (73m), and 24 at
60yds (55m); (horse racing) a flat racecourse at
York, North Yorkshire, England
yorker (cricket) a delivery of the ball that pitches
on the popping crease and passes under the bat
of the batsman [said to have been introduced
by Yorkshire players]
Yoyos (association football ) nickname for the Scottish
club Stirling Albion [from the team’s alternating
promotions and relegations, sending
them up and down like a yoyo]
yuko (judo) a score of five points, awarded for a
throw or hold not worthy of a waza-ari [Japanese]
yump (auto racing) in rally driving, to leave the
ground when going over a ridge or crest [Norwegian
jump, “jump”]
Yurchenko ( g ymnastics) a routine in the vault
consisting of a round-off onto the springboard,
then a flic-flac onto the vault, then a dismount
by way of a backflip [first performed in com-
175 XI • Yurchenko
petion in 1982 by the Soviet gymnast Natalya
Yurchenko (1965–)]

sport terms dictionary X class

X Games (Olympics) an alternate form of Olympic
Games devoted to extreme sports, held since
1995 in the United States, where they are conwith
• X Games 174
trolled and arranged by the sports broadcaster
ESPN [so named as designed for “Generation
X,” who became adults in the early 1990s]
XI (cricket) conventional designation of an eleven,
especially in fixtures [Roman numerals]
Xs and Os (American football ) a formula adopted
by coaches when explaining tactical maneuvers
to players by means of diagrams, “X” being an attacker
and “O” a defender
XV (rugby union) conventional designation of a
fifteen, especially in fixtures [Roman numerals]

sport terms dictionary W class

w (cricket) abbreviation of wide in scoring
waders (angling) high waterproof boots, used by
anglers for standing in streams or rivers
wager (horse racing) another term for a bet
waggle ( golf ) an act of waggling the clubhead over
the ball before playing a shot
waggler (angling) a type of long float that indicates
the slightest movement of the bait
wagonwheel (cricket) a graphic representation or
“map” of the paths of the balls hit by a particular
batsman [the lines resemble the spokes of a
wagonwheel]
WAGS (association football ) acronym of “wives and
girlfriends,” referring to the glamorous, freespending
partners of celebrity footballers, as depicted
in the British TV drama series Footballers’
Wives (2002–06)
wahine (surfing) colloquial term for a young female
surfer [Maori wahine, “woman”]
wait out (baseball ) to force a pitcher to throw a
maximum number of pitches by deliberately not
striking at them
waiting blocks (karate) an area where nonplaying
members of a team wait as reserves or where
players go when out
waiting race (horse racing) a race in which a horse
is kept a little way behind the leaders until the
final stages
waive (association football ) to refrain from using
the right to buy or sign a player from a club in
the same league before he is offered to a club in
another league
wake (water skiing) the V-shaped track of water
behind a boat as it moves forward
wakeboard (water skiing) the short wide board
similar to a snowboard used in wakeboarding
wakeboarding (water skiing) the sport of riding
and performing acrobatic maneuvers on a wakeboard
while it is towed behind a motorboat
walk (baseball ) another term for base on balls;
(cricket) to leave the pitch when dismissed without
waiting for the umpire to adjudicate on an
appeal; (equestrianism) a horse’s slowest gait, in
which the legs move individually in a diagonal
pattern
walk-on ( general ) a member of a team who has no
regular status
walk-up ( general ) (of ) spectators who attend a
sporting contest without buying tickets in advance;
(horse racing) the walking of a horse up to
the starting line
walkathon (athletics) a long-distance competitive
walk, undertaken to raise funds for charity
[blend of walk and marathon]
walkaway ( general ) a race in which the winner
leaves the other competitors far behind
Walker Cup ( golf ) the cup awarded to the winner
of a biennial competition between amateur
men’s teams from the United States and the
British Isles, first held in 1922 [named for George
H. Walker, president of the United States Golf
Association in the 1920s]
walking (athletics) shortening of race walking
walkover ( general ) (1) a race in which there is only
one competitor, who has merely to walk over the
finishing line to win; (2) an easy victory
wall (association football ) a formation of defensive
players lined up to defend their goal against a
free kick; (athletics) the onset of extreme fatigue
encountered by runners in a long-distance race
or marathon as a physical and psychological barrier
to be overcome; (baseball ) the barrier marking
the outer limit of the outfield; (equestrianism)
a high jump built to look like a wall; (Eton
wall game) each of the players who form the
bully against the wall; (mountaineering) a steep
smooth rock face; (surfing) the steep face of a
wave before it breaks
wall bars ( g ymnastics) a set of horizontal bars extending
up the wall of a gymnasium
wall game (sport) short name of the Eton wall
game
wall pass (association football ) another term for a
one-two
Wallabies (rugby union) nickname of the Australian
national team [from the animal, a member of
the kangaroo family, that is native to Australia]
walley (ice skating) a jump that starts from a back
inside edge and lands on the back outside edge
of the same blade [origin disputed]
wallyball (volleyball) a form of the game played in
a walled court [bland of wall and volleyball]
Walthamstow (greyhound racing) the stadium in
the district of this name in London, England,
that until its closure in 2008 was the country’s
leading venue for the sport
waltz (ice skating) a jump in the form of a takeoff
from a front outside edge of one blade, a halfrevolution,
and a landing on the back outside
edge of the other blade
ward ( fencing) a defensive posture or movement
warm-down ( general ) a period of gentle exercise
after keen physical exertion
warm-up ( general ) a practice exercise before a contest
warm-up lap (auto racing) another term for a formation
lap
warn off (horse racing) to ban a person from all race
meetings or from a particular course
169 vs • warn
warning (boxing) an official admonition from the
referee, three of which lead to a disqualification
from the bout
warning track (baseball ) a grass-free strip around
the outside of the outfield, warning approaching
fielders that they are near a wall
Warriors (association football ) nickname of the
Scottish club Stenhousemuir; (basketball) short
name of the Golden State Warriors team; (rugby
league) short name of the English clubs Whitehaven
Warriors and Wigan Warriors; (rugby
union) short name of the English club Worcester
Warriors
Warwick (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at Warwick, Warwickshire, England
wash (rowing) (1) the rough water behind a moving
boat that can affect the progress of competing
boats in a race; (2) the water disturbed by an
oar
washboard (motorcycle racing) in motocross, a series
of hillocks [suggesting the corrugations on a
washboard]
Wasps (association football ) nickname of the Scottish
club Alloa Athletic [from the yellow and
black colors of the team strip]; (rugby union)
short name of the English club London Wasps
watchet (angling) an artificial fly imitating a pale
blue mayfly [name of color]
water ballet (swimming) another term for synchronized
swimming
water hazard ( golf ) a hazard in the form of a lake,
river, stream, ditch, or other body of water,
defined by stakes or lines painted on the ground
water jump (athletics) an obstacle in the steeplechase,
in which athletes land in a shallow pool
of water; (equestrianism, horse racing) an obstacle
in the form of a fence or hedge followed by
a stretch of water
water polo (sport) a game played in a pool between
two teams of seven swimmers, the aim being to
throw a large ball into the netted goal of the opposing
side [the game has no connection with
or resemblance to polo but merely borrowed its
name]
water skiing (sport) the sport of being towed at
speed on one or two skis behind a motorboat
water skis (water skiing) lightweight runners made
of fiberglass, in some versions fitted with fins,
that enable the skier to skim the surface of the
water
water sports (sport) another term for aquatics
Waterloo Cup (bowls) the cup awarded to the winner
of a contest in crown green bowls first held
at the Waterloo Hotel, Liverpool, in 1907
watery grave ( golf ) colloquial term for a stretch
of water into which a ball has been hit
wave sailing (windsurfing) a form of the sport in
which participants attempt to become airborne
and perform stunts on the edges of waves
wave soaring (gliding) the gaining of altitude by
riding vertical waves of wind, as on the lee side
of a mountain
Waysiders (association football ) nickname of the
Scottish club Airdrie United
waza-ari (judo) a score of half a point, or half an
ippon, awarded to a contestant for an incompletely
executed throw or hold [Japanese waza,
“act,” and ari, from aru, “to be”]
weak side (American football ) the side of a standard
offensive formation on which there is no tight end
weasel (cricket) a very poor batsman [as one “sent
in after a rabbit”]
weave (boxing) to dodge punches by making twisting
and turning movements
wedeln (skiing) a style of traveling downhill in
which the skis, kept parallel and close together,
are swiveled rapidly from side to side [German
wedeln, “to wag the tail”]
wedge ( golf ) a club, especially a 10-iron, with
a broad low-angled face and a high degree of loft
Wednesday (association football ) short name of the
English club Sheffield Wednesday
Wee Rangers (association football ) nickname of the
Scottish club Berwick Rangers [they are “wee”
(small) as less successful and prosperous than
Rangers]
Wee Rovers (association football ) nickname of the
Scottish club Albion Rovers [they are “wee”
(small) as less successful and prosperous than
Raith Rovers]
weigh in (boxing) to be weighed as a boxer before
a match; (horse racing) to be weighed as a jockey
after a race
weigh-in (angling) the weighing of a catch after a
competition; (boxing) the weighing of a boxer
before a match; (horse racing) the weighing of a
jockey after a race
weigh out (horse racing) to be weighed as a jockey
before a race
weigh-out (horse racing) the weighing of a jockey
before a race
weigh sling (angling) a bag attached to a sling, used
for weighing a catch
weighing room (horse racing) the room in which
the jockeys and their saddles are weighed before
and after a race
weight (athletics) another term for the shot; (bowls)
the force given a delivery of a bowl; (boxing) the
standard amount that a boxer should weigh [categorized
by a defining prefix, as flyweight,
heavyweight]; (horse racing) the weight that a
handicapper assigns to a horse to carry, based
on its form; (weightlifting) shortening of disk
weight
warning • weight 170
weight cloth (horse racing) a cloth under a horse’s
saddle that contains lead weights to bring the
horse’s weight up to the required amount
weight training (weightlifting) the sport as a form
of physical exercise or training
weightlifter (weightlifting) a person who takes part
in the sport
weightlifting (sport) a sport in which competitors
strive to lift and hold above their heads a barbell
which becomes increasingly heavy (by the addition
of disk weights) as the competition progresses
weights (weightlifting) (1) shortening of weightlifting
or weight training; (2) the barbell or other
heavy object of a particular weight used in these
Well (association football ) short name of the Scottish
club Motherwell
Wellydrome (cycling) nickname of the roofless
Meadowbank velodrome, Edinburgh, Scotland
[pun on welly, short form of wellington boot,
worn in wet conditions]
welsh (horse racing) to run off from a racecourse
without settling one’s bets [of uncertain origin,
not related to Welsh]
welter (horse racing) an unusually heavy weight,
carried mostly in steeplechases and hurdle races
[origin uncertain]
welter race (horse racing) a race in which a welter
is carried
welterweight (boxing) the professional weight category
of maximum 67kg (147lb)
Wembley ( general ) shortening of Wembley Stadium
Wembley Arena ( general ) a former sports venue
near Wembley Stadium, London, that is now
used for rock concerts, comedy acts, and musical
shows
Wembley Stadium ( general ) a stadium in Wembley,
London, England, that opened in the 1920s
as a general sports center but was rebuilt in 2007
primarily as a covered association football stadium
with facilities for staging concerts and athletics
events
Wentworth ( golf ) a golf course and tennis club
at Virginia Water, Surrey, England
West Brom (association football ) short name of the
English club West Bromwich Albion
Westchester Cup (polo) the cup awarded to the
winner of a contest inaugurated in 1886 between
England and the United States [named for the
Westchester Polo Club, Westchester County,
New York]
Western (archery) a round of 48 arrows for men
and women respectively at 60yds and 50yds
(55m and 46m)
western grip (table tennis) anther term for the
shakehands
western roll (athletics) a style of high jump in
which the athlete takes off from the inside foot,
swings up the other leg, and rolls over the bar
face downward
wet bob (rowing) a boy at Eton College who rows
during the summer term, as distinct from a dry
bob
wet fly (angling) an artificial fly that sinks below
the surface of the water
Wetherby (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England
[the name has no connection with Weatherbys,
the firm founded in 1773 that now performs
major administrative duties in British racing]
wets (auto racing) tires with a full tread designed to
disperse surface water in wet conditions [colloquial
shortening of wet-weather tires]
wetsuit ( general ) a close-fitting waterproof garment
worn mainly by skin divers and surfers
for protection against the cold
Wexford (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at Wexford, Co. Wexford, Ireland
wheel (rugby union) to push the scrum unevenly,
so that it rotates
Wheelchair Games (Olympics) an early name for
the Paralympic Games
Wheelchair Olympics (Olympics) alternate name
for the Wheelchair Games
wheelchair sports ( general ) sports played by people
with physical disabilities (not just wheelchair
users), with wheelchair prefixed to the name of
the sport, as wheelchair tennis
wheeler (cycling) colloquial term for a cyclist [some
clubs use the word in their name, as the Manchester
Wheelers]
wheelhouse (baseball ) the area immediately surrounding
a batter, especially when favoring a
good swing at a pitch
wheelie ( general ) a stunt in which a cyclist or motorcyclist
travels a short distance with the front
wheel of the machine off the ground, or in which
a boarder travels on a skateboard with one pair
of wheels off the ground
wheelsucking (cycling) colloquial term for the
technique of riding close to the rider in front in
order to slipstream
whereabouts rule ( general ) a requirement whereby
athletes must give advance notice of the location
where they can be reached by dope control
officers at any time
whiff (baseball ) to cause a batter to strike out;
( general ) to aim at a ball but miss it; ( golf ) another
term for an air shot
whiffleball (baseball ) a light, hollow, plastic ball
used in a form of the game as played by young
children [from whiffle, “puff of air”]
whip (cricket) a springy action of the wrist in hitting
or bowling a ball; (equestrianism) the driver
171 weight cloth • whip
in carriage driving; (horse racing) the flexible
switch with which a jockey urges on his horse;
(wrestling) a technique by which an opponent is
forced into a somersault by a sudden wrench of
his forearm
whipback ( g ymnastics) a back handspring in
which the hands do not touch the floor
whipper-in (horse racing) colloquial term for the last
horse in a race at any given moment [a term borrowed
from hunting, in which the whipper-in
keeps the hounds from straying by driving them
back into the main body of the pack with a whip]
whippet (greyhound racing) a racing dog developed
from a cross between a greyhound and a spaniel
or terrier
whistle ( general ) a blast on a whistle by a referee,
typically in association football, to signal a halt
in play, either because a foul has occurred or because
it is half time or full time
Whitbread Round the World Race (sailing) name
of the Volvo Ocean Race to 2001 [name of
sponsor]
white (snooker) the white cue ball
white-ball game (sport) byname of cricket when
played with a white ball, as against the traditional
red-ball game
White City ( general ) a former stadium and center
of greyhound racing in west London [originally
an exhibition center of white-stuccoed
buildings laid out in 1908]
white flag (athletics) a flag waved to an athlete to
indicate a fair jump or throw; (auto racing) a
flag waved to show that a slow-moving vehicle
such as the safety car is on the track
White Hart Lane (association football ) the home
ground of Tottenham Hotspur football club,
London
white jersey (cycling) the jersey awarded to the
best-placed rider aged 25 or under [French
maillot blanc, “white jersey”]
white rose ( general ) the emblem of a Lancashire
sports team, as opposed to the red rose [from
the Wars of the Roses, the 15th-century dynastic
struggle between the English houses of Lancaster
and York, whose respective emblems were
a white rose and a red rose]
White Sox (baseball ) short name of the Chicago
White Sox team
Whitechapel (billiards) a shot that unintentionally
sends an opponent’s ball into a pocket [from
Whitechapel, a formerly poor district of London,
where the game was popular]
whites (cricket, tennis) the white clothes traditionally
worn by players
Whites (association football ) nickname of the English
club Leeds United [the color of the team
strip]
whitewash ( general ) a total defeat in a game or series
of games
whitewater (canoeing) the type of foaming water
created by rapids, as found in slalom
whoop ( general) a bump on a track or course in
off-roading or rally driving
wick (curling) to strike another stone and move it
wicket (cricket) (1) the upright arrangement of three
stumps with two bails atop which the batsman
defends against the bowling; (2) a batsman’s
turn at this; (3) a batsman’s innings; (4) another
term for the pitch, especially with regard to its
condition (as a soft wicket)
wicket-taker (cricket) a bowler regularly able to
take a wicket
wicketkeeper (cricket) the fielder who stands immediately
behind the wicket defended by the
batsman and whose main aim is stop any balls
that the latter misses
wide (cricket) a delivery of the ball by the bowler
judged by the umpire to be beyond the reach of
the batsman and so counting one run to the
batsman’s side; (horse racing) running on a course
that deviates from the most direct, as a horse
may be obliged to do when starting from an unfavorable
draw
wide receiver (American football ) a receiver who
stands to the side of the rest of the team, his
prime task being to catch passes and run quickly
downfield with the ball
wideout (American football ) another term for a
wide receiver
wiffleball (baseball ) another spelling of whiffleball
Wightman Cup (tennis) the cup awarded to the
winner of an annual championship played between
British and American women’s teams from
1923 to 1989 [donated in 1923 by the U.S. player
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (1886–1974)]
Wild (ice hockey) short name of the Minnesota
Wild team
wild card ( general ) a player or team allowed to
enter a sporting contest although lacking the
usual qualifications or not meeting the official
requirements [from the term for a playing card
having any value its player chooses to give it]
wild pitch (baseball ) a pitch thrown so inaccurately
that it is not hit by the batter or stopped
by the catcher, thus enabling a baserunner to
advance
Wildcats (rugby league) short name of the English
club Wakefield Wildcats
William H. Cane Futurity (horse racing) an annual
harness race for three-year-old pacers run
at Yonkers, New York, since 1955 [named for
breederWilliam H. Cane (1874–1956), who in
1950 converted the former Empire City racetrack
to the Yonkers Raceway]
whipback • William 172
willow (cricket) byname for a cricket bat [traditionally
made of willow]
Wimbledon (tennis) short name of the All England
Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon,
London, England, founded in 1869 and since
1877 the site of the annual men’s and women’s
singles and doubles championships
win ( general ) a victory in a contest
Wincanton (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Wincanton, Somerset, England
Winchester fives (fives) a variant of Rugby fives
played between doubles in a four-walled court,
in which a buttress on a side wall makes one end
of the court slightly narrower than the other
[originally played at Winchester College, Hampshire]
Winchester football (sport) a form of rugby union
played exclusively at Winchester College,
Hampshire, with a round ball as in association
football
wind (boxing) a point on the body covering the
stomach, a blow on which causes winding
wind-assisted (athletics) enhanced as a distance or
time by a following wind, and therefore ineligible
for official records
wind-up (baseball ) a coiled position assumed by a
pitcher before throwing the ball
windcheater ( golf ) a ball struck low with strong
backspin into the wind
Windies (cricket) colloquial name of the West Indies
team
window (angling) the area of upward vision of a
fish, taken into account when fly fishing, especially
for trout
window jump (skiing) a stunt in which the skier
supports himself on his sticks, swings the skis
between them, then turns the skis in the air
Windsor (horse racing) a flat racecourse at Windsor,
Berkshire, England
windsurfer (windsurfing) a person who takes part
in windsurfing
windsurfing (sport) a blend of surfing and sailing,
consisting in riding the waves on a sailboard
windward (sailing) toward the direction from
which the wind is blowing, as distinct from leeward
wing ( general ) (1) another term for a winger; (2)
the part of the field in which he plays; (paragliding,
paramotoring) an equivalent to the parachute
in the form of an inflatable elliptical
canopy with small air pockets
wing attack (netball ) an attacking player restricted
to the attacking third and center third
wing defense (netball ) a defensive player restricted
to the defending third and center third
wing forward (rugby union) another term for a
flanker
wingback (association football ) a player on the
wing with a greater attacking role than a conventional
fullback
winger ( general ) in field games, a player on the
right or left wing, who in association football
has the prime task of sending crosses into the
penalty box and in rugby league and rugby
union tries to run fast with the ball down the
side of the pitch
Wingfield Sculls (rowing) the trophy awarded to
the winner of an annual sculls race over the Boat
Race course in London [inaugurated in 1830 by
Henry C. Wingfield, a lawyer]
winner (tennis) the stroke that ends a rally, so winning
a point
winning gallery (real tennis) the last gallery on the
hazard side of the court, a shot into which wins
a point
winning hazard (billiards, snooker) a stroke in
which the object ball goes into a pocket
winning line ( general) another term for the finishing
line
winning opening (real tennis) each of the three
openings around the court into which the ball
may be struck from the far side of the net, these
being the dedans, the grille, and the winning
gallery
winning post (horse racing) the post marking the
finishing line on a racecourse
winter book (horse racing) the estimate made by a
bookmaker of the odds for races in the coming
season
winter football (sport) alternate name for bandy
Winter Olympics (Olympics) an international festival
of winter sports introduced in 1924 as an
independent extension of the Olympic Games
winter sports ( general ) open-air sports practiced
mainly (but not exclusively) in winter on snow
and ice, such as ice hockey, ice skating, and
skiing
wipeout ( general ) a fall from a surfboard, skateboard,
skis, or the like, especially when spectacular
wire (croquet) (1) the part of the hoop above the
ground; (2) to play a shot in such a way that a
ball is hampered by a hoop; (greyhound racing,
horse racing) another term for the finishing line
[formerly marked by a wire stretched across the
racetrack]
wired (croquet) prevented from making an intended
shot because a ball, or a proper swing of the
mallet, is hampered by a hoop
Wisden (cricket) short title of Wisden Cricketers’
Almanack, an annual comprehensive and definitive
record of the sport [first published in 1864
by John Wisden (1826–1884)]
wishbone (American football ) a variant of the T-
173 willow • wishbone
formation, in which the two halfbacks are set
back from the fullback to form an inverted “V”
or “wishbone”
with the darts (darts) winning a leg with the advantage
of throwing first
Wizards (basketball) short name of the Washington
Wizards team
WM (association football ) a formation of five defenders
(three backs and two halves) in the
shape of a “W” and five attackers (five forwards)
in the shape of an “M”
wobbler (angling) a lure that wobbles and does not
spin
wobbly duck (American football ) colloquial term
for a badly-thrown pass [it wobbles instead of
going straight]
Wolverhampton (horse racing) a flat and National
Hunt racecourse at Wolverhampton, near
Birmingham, England
Wolves (association football ) nickname of the English
club Wolverhampton Wanderers; (rugby
league) short name of the English clubWarrington
Wolves
wood (bowls) another term for a bowl [originally
made of wood, but now of a composite material];
( golf ) a club with a bulky head [traditionally
made of wood, but now usually of metal]
wood shot (tennis) a shot inadvertently played off
the rim of the racket [formerly made of wood]
wooden spoon ( general ) the last place in a competition
[originally a spoon made of wood presented
to the candidate coming last in the mathematical
tripos at Cambridge]
woodwork (association football ) colloquial term for
the goalposts and crossbar
Worcester (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Worcester, Worcestershire, England
work (cricket) the manipulation of the ball by the
bowler to give it a swing or spin; (horse racing)
exercise in preparation for a race
work out (boxing) to fight a practice bout
worker ( golf ) colloquial term for a shot, especially
a putt, that runs a long way
workout (boxing) a practice bout
world ( general ) shortening of world championship
World Bowl (American football ) an annual contest
first held in 1991 as the championship game of
the World League of American Football but
from 1995 that of NFL Europe
world champion ( general ) the champion of a
sport in an international contest
world championship ( general ) an international
sports contest whose winner will become world
champion
World Cup ( general ) the cup awarded to the winner
of an international tournament in a particular
sport, the best-known being that first held
in 1930 in association football, formerly known
as the Jules Rimet Trophy [other sports with
World Cup contests are (with year of inauguration)
athletics (1977), baseball (1938), cricket
(1975), field hockey (1971), golf (1953), lacrosse
(1982), polo (1987), rugby league (1954), rugby
union (1987), skiing (1967), table tennis
(1980), volleyball (1965), water polo (1979)]
World Matchplay Championship ( golf ) an international
championship with a valuable prize
inaugurated in 1964 and until 2008 played at
Wentworth
world record ( general ) an internationally unsurpassed
record
World Road Race Championship (cycling) an annual
international road race competition first
held in 1927
World Series (baseball ) a series of games contested
annually since 1903 between the champions of
the National League and the American League
world title ( general ) another term for a world
championship
worm (angling) the earthworm used as bait
wormer (angling) a person who collects worms for
bait
wrap ( g ymnastics) a twining around of the body
during a routine on the asymmetric bars
wrestle down (wrestling) to bring an opponent to
the ground
wrestler (wrestling) a person who participates in
the main sport or in sumo
wrestling (sport) a combat sport in which two contestants
grapple, each trying to throw his opponent
to the ground and pinion him there
wrestling match (wrestling) a contest between two
wrestlers
Wrigley Field (American football ) the home
ground of the Chicago Bears team in Chicago
wrist play (cricket) a technique in which a batsman
scores runs by tipping the ball with a turn
of the wrist rather than by wielding a full-on
stroke with the bat
wrist wrestling (wrestling) a variant of arm
wrestling in which the contenders lock right
thumbs instead of hands in an attempt to force
down each other’s arm
wrong-foot ( general ) to destabilize an opponent
by means of a deceptive move or shot
wrong ’un (cricket) another term for a googly;
(horse racing) a horse dishonestly held back so as
to lose a race
wushu ( general ) a term for the Chinese martial
arts [Chinese wu, “military,” and shu, “art”]

sport terms dictionary V class

v ( general ) abbreviation of versus (“against”), used
to name the two teams or individuals in a game
or match, as “France v New Zealand,” “Rangers
v Celtic”
V (cricket) the area on the field between mid-off
and mid-on, used to describe the path of a ball
hit by the batsman
V-position (skiing) the position of the skis adopted
by most skiers during a ski jump, touching at the
tail and spread apart at the tips to form a “V”
Valderrama ( golf ) a golf course at San Roque,
southwestern Spain
Vale (association football ) short name of the English
club Port Vale
Valentine’s Brook (horse racing) a difficult jump
on the Grand National course at Aintree
[named for a horse that spectacularly cleared it]
valet (horse racing) the person responsible for looking
after a jockey’s equipment
Valiants (association football ) nickname of the English
clubs Charlton Athletic and Port Vale
van (tennis) abbreviation of advantage
Vardon grip ( golf ) a common grip of the club, in
which the pinkie of the right hand overlaps the
forefinger of the left [popularized by the English
champion Harry Vardon (1870–1937)]
varsity ( general ) a team representing a university or
college
varsity match ( general ) an annual match between
the teams of Oxford and Cambridge universities,
notably in association football and rugby
union
vault (athletics) shortening of pole vault; (gymnastics)
a leap from a springboard onto and over
167 University • vault
a vaulting horse, on which the hands are briefly
rested to gain height during the flight; (equestrianism)
a gymnastic leap or routine made by
a rider on horseback
vaulting (g ymnastics, equestrianism) the execution
of a vault as a distinctive event or discipline
vaulting horse ( g ymnastics) a piece of apparatus
in the form of a wooden block used for vaulting
[it represents a horse to be mounted by a vault]
veer (American football ) an offensive play in which
a modified T-formation with a split backfield
gives the quarterback the option of either passing
to the fullback, pitching to a running back,
or running with the ball himself; (sailing) to
change course away from the wind
velodrome (cycling) an indoor or outdoor stadium
with a banked track for races [borrowing of
French vélodrome, from vélo, “bicycle,” and -
drome as in hippodrome]
Vendée Globe (sailing) a solo, non-stop roundthe-
world race held every four years, sailing
westward from and back to Les Sables d’Olonne
on the west coast of France [from Vendée, the
French department where the race begins and
ends]
vent (parachuting) the opening in a canopy
through which air escapes at a controlled rate
venue ( general ) the chosen location for a match
or other sporting contest
verbal abuse (general) the offense by a player of berating
a referee or other official for an apparent
misjudgment, such as an alleged miscall by a
line judge in tennis (where it may be accompanied
by racket abuse)
vert (skateboarding, snowboarding) a vertical extension
to a ramp, from which stunts are performed
[abbreviation of vertical]
vertical (equestrianism) a high obstacle
vertical gate (skiing) a gate on a slalom course with
poles placed vertically rather than horizontally
Vezina Trophy (ice hockey) the trophy awarded annually
since 1927 to the goalkeeper voted the best
at his position [named in commemoration of the
Canadian player Georges Vézina (1887–1926)]
victor ludorum ( general ) a title awarded in some
schools and colleges to the overall champion in
a sports competition [Latin victor ludorum, “winner
of the games”]
Victorian Football League (Australian Rules) former
name of the Australian Football League
victory lane (auto racing) in NASCAR, the place
on the infield of the racetrack where the winner
parks for the prize-giving
victory lap (athletics) a celebratory lap run by an
athlete after winning a race
video referee (rugby league, rugby union) an official
in the stands who has access to TV replays and
who may be consulted by the referee in cases of
a doubtful try
video review ( general ) the video replay of an incident
during a match in order to determine
whether an offense had been committed
vigoro (sport) a team game played mainly by
women that combines elements of cricket and
baseball [abbreviation of vigorous]
VIII (rowing) conventional designation of an eight
in sports reports [Roman numerals]
Vikings (American football ) short name of the
Minnesota Vikings team; (rugby league) short
name of the English club Widnes Vikings
Villa (association football ) short name of the English
club Aston Villa
village cricket (cricket) an informal game or
match, as played between local village teams
Villans (association football ) short name of the English
club Aston Villa [pun on villains]
Vince Lombardi Trophy (American football ) the
trophy awarded since 1967 to the winners of the
Super Bowl [named for Vince Lombardi
(1913–1970), coach and manager of the Green
Bay Packers team]
violation (basketball) a breach of the rules not considered
to be a foul, such as traveling
visitors ( general ) a team that comes to play a
match on the home ground of their rivals
visor (horse racing) a headpiece worn by a horse to
concentrate its attention on the course ahead in
the manner of blinkers but unlike them having
slits that allow some side vision
voiture balai (cycling) alternate French term for
the broom wagon
volley (association football ) a shot or pass in which
the ball is struck before it hits the ground;
(squash, tennis) a shot played before the ball
bounces; (volleyball) a shot of the ball over the
net with the fingers, fist, or forearm
volleyball (sport) a game for two teams of six players
played with a large ball on a court, the aim
being to gain points by hitting the ball by a volley
over a high net dividing the court in such a
way that the opposing team cannot return it
volte (equestrianism) the gait of a horse moving
sideways around the center of a circle [French
volte, from Italian volta, “turn”]
Volvo Ocean Race (sailing) a round-the-world
race for one-design boats, first held in 1973
[name of sponsors]
vorlage (skiing) a position in which the skier leans
forward without lifting his heels from the skis
[German Vorlage, “presentation”]
vorlaufer (skiing) a skier who travels a course before
a race to check that it is within the capacity
of the competitors [German, Vorläufer, “runner
ahead”]
vaulting • vorlaufer 168
vs ( general) another form of v as an abbreviation of
versus (“against”), as in “Barbarians vs All Blacks”
Vuelta a España (cycling) an annual stage race over
the roads of Spain, first held in 1935 [Spanish
Vuelta a España, “Tour of Spain”]

sport terms dictionary U class

Uber Cup (badminton) the cup awarded to the
winner of a biennial international team competition
for women first held in 1957 [named for the
English player Betty Uber (c.1905–1983)]
uchimata (judo) an inner thigh throw made with
the thrower’s leg braced between the legs of his
opponent [Japanese uchi, “inside,” and mata,
“thigh”]
ude-garami (judo) an armlock applied to the arm
of an opponent when bent at the elbow [Japanese
ude, “arm,” and karami, “lock”]
ude-gatame (judo) an armlock applied to the arm
of an opponent when straight [Japanese ude,
“arm,” and katame, “hold”]
UEFA (association football ) abbreviation of Union
of European Football Associations
UEFA Champions League (association football )
formal name of the European Champions’ Cup
165 24 Hours • UEFA Champions
UEFA Cup (association football ) the cup awarded
from 1958 to 2009 (when renamed the Europa
League) to the winners of a contest between clubs
finishing near the top of their domestic league
uglies (rugby union) colloquial term applied to a
team’s forwards by the backs
uke (judo) general term for the combatant who is
in a hold or the object of a throw [Japanese
ukeru, “to receive”]
ukemi (judo) the art of falling safely [uke and Japanese
mi, “body”]
uki-gatame (judo) a ground hold applied after an
opponent has been thrown [Japanese uki, “floating,”
and katame, “to lock”]
uki-otoshi (judo) a throw made with the hand
alone [Japanese uki, “floating,” and otoshi,
“dropping”]
ultimate fighting (sport) a combat sport in which
two opponents fight each other without protective
gear and with only minimal rules as to the
type of blow permitted
ultimate Frisbee (sport) another name for airborne
soccer
ultra (athletics) colloquial shortening of ultramarathon
ultramarathon (athletics) a long-distance race
greater than a marathon, especially a foot race
of 36 miles or more
ump ( general ) colloquial abbreviation of umpire
umpire ( general ) an official in sports such as baseball,
cricket, and tennis, in many ways corresponding
to a referee, who supervises a game or
match, enforces the rules, and decides disputes
uncapped (cricket) not having been awarded the
cap given to regular members of a county cricket
team; ( general ) not having been selected to play
for a national team
Uncle Charlie (baseball ) colloquial term for a
curveball
under ( golf ) under par [in this adverbial usage,
under is invariably preceded by the number of
strokes involved, as “three under”]
under orders (horse racing) shortening of under
starter’s orders
under starter’s orders (horse racing) ready to begin
a race and awaiting the starting signal
under way (sailing) having begun to move in the
water
under wraps (horse racing) (of ) a horse restrained
from running at its best in order to disguise its
true form before an important race
underarm (cricket) (of ) a delivery made with the
hand lower than the level of the shoulders, now
not generally permitted; (swimming) (of ) a
stroke made with the arm below the level of the
body; (tennis) (of ) a serve made with the hand
lower than the level of the shoulders
undercard (boxing) a contest placed second on the
billing
underclub ( golf ) to use a club with too much loft,
so that the ball is not sent far enough
undercut ( golf ) to strike a ball below the center,
causing it to rise high; (mountaineering) to cut
a handhold from below in order to maintain
the climber’s balance; (tennis) to slice down on a
ball below the center so that backspin is imparted
underedge (cricket) the inside or bottom edge of a
bat
undergrip ( g ymnastics) a hold on the horizontal
bar made by passing the hands beneath it,
rather than over it, so that the palms face the
gymnast
underhold (mountaineering) a hold in which the
climber grasps a downturned edge or point from
beneath with his palm turned upward in order
to maintain his balance
underpitched (cricket) not pitched far enough by
the bowler, so that the ball falls short
underspin ( general ) a backward spin imparted to
a ball so that it stops quickly or bounces backward
on making contact with the ground or
some other surface
undertie (angling) to tie the wings of a fly so that
they cover the point of the hook
underwater sports (aquatics) sports played below
the surface of the water, some being submerged
versions of field games such as field hockey or
rugby union
underwater swimming (aquatics) a former term
for sports such as skin diving or subaqua
underwear cricket (cricket) mocking term for
twenty20 cricket [as punningly compared to
pajama cricket, both being shortened forms of
the game]
unearned run (baseball ) a run conceded because
of an error by the fielding side
uneven bars ( g ymnastics) another term for the
asymmetric bars
unexposed (horse racing) having an unknown or
uncertain racing form, like a dark horse
Union of European Football Associations (association
football ) the sport’s international association
for Europe, founded in 1954 and affiliated
to FIFA
United (association football ) short name of a British
club with “United” in its name, as Leeds United
or Manchester United
United States Grand Prix (auto racing) the Formula
One international Grand Prix held on
various circuits, such as those at Detroit (Michigan),
Long Beach (California), the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway (site of the Indianapolis 500),
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (California), Riverside
UEFA Cup • United 166
(California), Phoenix (Arizona), and Watkins
Glen (New York)
University Boat Race (rowing) formal name of the
Boat Race
unload (boxing) to deliver a forceful punch
unpaced ( general) without the assistance of a pacemaker
unplaced (horse racing) not among the first thee
horses to win a race
unplayable ( golf ) in a position where the ball cannot
be struck
unseated (equestrianism, horse racing) thrown from
a horse
unseeded (tennis) not placed in the draw of top
players
unshipped (equestrianism, horse racing) another
term for unseated
unsuited (horse racing) disadvantaged in a race by
factors adversely affecting a horse’s best performance,
as by the state of going
up (baseball ) another term for at bat; (equestrianism,
horse racing) mounted on a horse; ( general )
ahead in scoring
up-and-down ( golf ) an act of completing a hole
from a point close to the green with a single
pitch shot or chip shot (“up”) and a single putt
(“down”)
up-and-under (rugby league, rugby union) a very
high kick (“up”) that gives the kicker and his
teammates time to rush forward to the point
(“under”) where the ball will come down
up the jumper (rugby union) a style of play in
which a team advances the ball down the pitch
through the forwards, with little passing and
much use of the drive [the ball in such a move
is difficult to locate, as if one of the players had
put it “up his jumper”]
upfield ( general ) in or toward the farther end of a
playing field
uppercut (boxing) an upward punch that comes
from underneath the opponent’s guard
upright (association football ) another term for a
goalpost
upright spin (ice skating) a spin in which the skater
stands and rotates on one foot
upset ( general ) an unexpected defeat of the favorite
upshot (archery) the final shot of a contest
upstart ( g ymnastics) a series of movements on the
parallel bars or asymmetric bars, especially at
the start of a routine, by which a gymnast
swings to a position in which he supports his
body by his arms above the bars
upstream gate (canoeing) on a slalom course, a
gate to be negotiated against the direction of the
current
urn (cricket) the trophy awarded to the winner of
the Ashes
U’s (association football ) short name of a club with
“United” in its name, as Cambridge United,
Colchester United, Oxford United
US Masters ( golf ) an annual invitational contest
held at the Augusta National Club since 1934
US Open ( golf ) an annual tournament first held
in 1895; (tennis) an annual tournament first held
in 1881 and since 1978 played at Flushing Meadows
[so named as open to both amateur and
professional players]
US PGA ( golf ) a U.S. championship first held in
1916 and a matchplay event until 1958 [abbreviation
of Professional Golfers’ Association]
useful ( general ) playing or performing competently,
if not outstandingly well
utility club ( golf ) a club, often used for long shots
from difficult rough, that combines the favorable
characteristics of an iron with those of a
wood
utility player (association football ) a player capable
of playing in different positions
Uttoxeter (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England

sport terms dictionary T2 class

tipster (horse racing) a person who offers tips to
punters, often making a living by doing so
Titans (American football ) short name of the Tennessee
Titans team
title ( general ) another term for a championship
title fight (boxing) a match held to decide a championship
Tkatchev ( g ymnastics) a form of release on the
horizontal bar or asymmetric bars in which
the gymnast swings up in an arched position as
in a back giant, sails over the bar with his back
to it, then sits up and catches the bar again [introduced
in 1977 by the Soviet gymnast Aleksandr
Vasilyevich Tkachyov (1957–)]
TKO (boxing) abbreviation of technical knockout
toe (field hockey) the tip of the curved end of a
hockey stick; ( golf ) the part of the clubhead
furthest from the player
toe jump (ice skating) a jump in which the skater
pushes off with his free foot
toe loop (ice skating) a jump in which the skater
takes off and lands on the same back outside
edge
toe pick (ice skating) the serrated teeth at the front
of the blade of a skate, used in certain jumps
and spins
toe poke (association football ) a powerful shot
struck with the end of the foot
toe rake (ice skating) another term for a toe pick
toe spin (ice skating) a spin made on the toe or toes
of the skates
toe-tap (Gaelic football ) another term for solo
toe the line (athletics) to line up before a race with
one’s toes touching the starting line
toeboard (athletics) the board marking the limit of
the thrower’s run in the shot put
toeclips (cycling) devices on the pedals that hold
the foot firm, now generally superseded by clipless
pedals
toehold (mountaineering) a small foothold used in
climbing; (wrestling) a hold in which the
wrestler grasps his opponent’s toes and twists
his foot or bends it back
Toffeemen (association football ) nickname of the
English club Everton [from the local manufacture
of toffee]
Toffees (association football ) colloquial shortening
of Toffeemen
tombstoning (swimming) a hazardous form of diving
in which the participant jumps into the sea
from a height [his descent is vertical and upright,
like a tombstone]
ton (cricket) colloquial term for a century [originally
a measure of 100 cubic feet]
Ton (association football ) short name of the Scottish
club Greenock Morton
tonguestrap (horse racing) a band that prevents the
horse’s tongue from going over the bit, making
it easier for the rider to control him
tonk (cricket) a powerful stroke with the bat
tonker (cricket) a batsman with a hard-hitting style
[of tonks]
tools of ignorance (baseball ) colloquial term for the
protective equipment worn by the catcher
Toon Army (association football ) nickname for the
supporters of the English club Newcastle
United [from local dialect toon, “town”]
top (baseball ) the first part of an inning, during
which the visiting team bats; ( golf ) to hit the
ball (usually inadvertently) on its upper part, so
that it travels only a short distance along the
ground
top and tail (rugby league, rugby union) an illegal
tackle in which one player grasps an opponent
by the knees and another by the chest, so
wrenching him to the ground
top edge (cricket) (1) the upper edge of a bat as
held by the batsman; (2) a (usually inadvertent)
stroke off this part
top order (cricket) the batsmen who come first in
the batting order
top out (mountaineering) to reach the top of the
route
top pocket (billiards, snooker) one of the two pockets
at the far end of the billiard table
159 timeless • top
top-score (cricket) to score the greatest number of
runs in an innings
top shelf (ice hockey) the roof of the net, into which
the puck is sometimes hit
top weight (horse racing) the heaviest weight carried
by a horse in a handicap
topo (mountaineering) a diagram showing the route
of a rock climb [short for topographical map]
toprope (mountaineering) a rope fixed at the top
of a route
topspin ( general ) a forward-spinning motion imparted
to a ball as it is struck or thrown, making
it travel higher, further, or faster
topspinner (cricket) (1) a bowler who imparts a
topspin to the ball; (2) a ball given such a spin
tori (judo) the active partner in carrying out a hold
or throw [Japanese tori, “taking”]
Tornado (sailing) a class of double-handed multihull
Torpids (rowing) an annual bumping race between
college eights at Oxford University [originally
held for second eights, regarded as unenthusiastic
or lethargic]
toss ( general ) the tossing of a coin before a match
to give one of the sides the choice of play, such
as whether to bat or field in cricket or which
end to take in association football
toss the oars (rowing) to raise the oars vertically
in a victory salute
tossing the caber (sport) in Highland games, an
event in which the contestant holds a caber upright
in both hands against one side of his neck,
moves slowly forward while balancing it, then
brings his hands up to up-end it, so that it describes
a loop in the air before falling
total football (association football ) a style of the
game in which all of the players, including defenders,
can be involved in attack
totalizator (horse racing) (1) a ticketed betting system
in which the total amount staked is divided
among the winners in proportion to the size of
their stake; (2) a machine that shows the number
and amount of bets placed on each horse
under this system
tote (horse racing) abbreviation of totalizator
Tote (horse racing) proprietary name of the Horserace
Totalisator Board, established in 1963 to operate
totalizators on British racecourses (and
subsequently offering bets on any sporting event)
touch (association football, rugby league, rugby union)
the area outside the field of play; ( general ) shortening
of touch football or touch rugby
touch-finder (rugby union) (1) a player who kicks
the ball into touch; (2) the kick itself
touch football (American football ) a form of the
game in which touching takes the place of tackling
touch in (swimming) to touch the end of the swimming
pool on winning a race, as the equivalent
of breasting the tape in a foot race
touch-in-goal (rugby league, rugby union) the areas
at each end of the pitch behind the try lines and
outside the touchlines
touch judge (rugby league, rugby union) an official
who marks with a flag when and where the ball
goes into touch, corresponding to the assistant
referee (formerly linesman) in association football
touch kick (rugby union) a kick of the ball into
touch
touch rugby (rugby union) a form of the game in
which touching takes the place of tackling
touch rugger (rugby union) another name for
touch rugby
touch shot (tennis) a gentle stroke of the ball with
the racket
touchback (American football ) a play in which the
ball is made dead by a player on or behind his
own goal line after it has been sent over the line
by the opposing team
touchball (rugby union) another name for touch
rugby
touchdown (American football ) possession of the
ball by a player behind the goal line of the opposing
team; (rugby league, rugby union) the
touching of the ball to the ground by a player behind
the try line
touché! ( fencing) an acknowledgment of a hit
[French touché!, “touched!”]
toucher (bowls) a bowl that touches the jack before
coming to rest when first bowled on the green
touching ball (snooker) a situation in which the
cue ball is touching another ball and must be
played away from it without moving it
touchline (association football ) the line around the
pitch within which play takes place; (rugby
union) the line marking the edge of the pitch,
from which lineouts are taken
touchline ban (association football ) a ban on a seat
in the dugout imposed for a stated period on a
player or official as a penalty for improper conduct
or other offense
tour (auto racing) (1) a circuit or lap of the track;
(2) to travel very slowly; ( general ) a visit abroad
by a sports team to play a series of matches
Tour de France (cycling) an annual stage race over
the roads of France and adjoining countries to
finish in Paris, first held in 1903 [French Tour de
France, “Tour of France”]
Tour de l’Avenir (cycling) an annual stage race
similar to the Tour de France for riders under the
age of 23, first held in 1963 [French Tour de
l’Avenir, “Tour of the Future”]
Tour of Britain (cycling) an annual stage race over
top-score • Tour of Britain 160
the roads of England and Wales (but rarely Scotland)
on the pattern of the Tour de France, first
held in 1952
Tour of Spain (cycling) a frequently used English
name for the Vuelta a España
touring car (auto racing) a large automobile with
room for passengers, entered in races on the
same circuits as purpose-built racecars [properly
a car designed for touring]
tourist ( general ) a member of a sports team making
a tour
Tourist Trophy (motorcycle racing) the trophy
awarded to the winner of an annual race held on
the roads of the Isle of Man since 1907 but discontinued
as a world championship in 1976 because
of the high incidence of injuries [originally open
to motorcycles known as “touring machines”]
tournament ( general ) a series of games to determine
a winner (or winning team) by process of
elimination
Tournament of the Roses (American football ) alternate
name for the Rose Bowl
tourney ( general ) alternate form of tournament
tout ( general ) shortening of ticket tout; (horse racing)
a person who lurks around stables to report
on the movements and condition of racehorses
tow (athletics) to spur on competitors by setting a
fast pace on the track
Towcester (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Towcester, Northamptonshire, England
Town (association football ) short name of the English
clubs Ipswich Town and Shrewsbury Town
towplane (gliding) an aircraft that tows gliders
toxophily (sport) a formal term for archery
trace (angling) a short piece of wire or nylon that
connects the hook to the fishing line
track (cricket) another term for the pitch between
the wickets; ( general ) the prepared course, often
oval-shaped, on which races are held between
people (as in athletics), animals (as in greyhound
racing), or machines (as in auto racing);
(horse racing) shortening of racetrack
track and field (athletics) a collective term for track
events and field events
track athlete (athletics) an athlete specializing in
track events
track bike (cycling) a bicycle with a fixed rear wheel
and no brakes, designed for track races
track event (athletics) any form of foot race, as
the middle-distance race, long-distance race,
sprint, hurdles, relay, and steeplechase [all run
on a track, unlike field events]
track race (cycling) a race that takes place in a velodrome
track record ( general ) a record of past performance,
especially of an athlete
track shoes (athletics) lightweight spiked running
shoes worn by participants in track events
trackman (athletics) another term for a track athlete
trackwork (athletics) practice or performance on a
track
Tractor Boys (association football ) nickname of the
English club Ipswich Town [from the local agricultural
industry]
traffic (auto racing) cars that are further back in the
field and going more slowly than the leaders;
( general ) the bunching together of players in a
team of runners or riders in a race
traffic problems ( general ) problems experienced
by participants in a race when caught up in
traffic
trail ( general ) to be losing in a game or contest
trail the jack (bowls) to send down a bowl that
strikes the jack flush and moves it along in the
same direction as that of the bowl itself [which
thus trails the jack or follows behind it]
Trailblazers (basketball) short name of the Portland
Trailblazers team
trailing (bowls) a form of the game in which the object
is to send down a bowl that will trail the
jack into a semicircle marked beyond two bowls
three feet apart
trails (cycling) a variant of dirt jumping in BMX
in which riders ride over a series of dirt jumps
train ( general ) (1) to instruct and rehearse a person
or team (or animal) in a sport; (2) to prepare
oneself by practice and discipline for participation
in a sport
train down ( general ) to reduce one’s weight by diet
and exercise in order to be fit for a particular
sport or sporting event
trainer ( general ) a person whose profession is to
train others in a sport; (horse racing) a person
who schools racehorses and prepares them for
races
training camp ( general ) a training center or venue
for sports participants
Tralee (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland
tramlines (tennis) a pair of parallel lines either side
of the court, the inner line in each case marking
the boundary of the court for singles and the
outer marking the boundary for doubles [the lines
suggest those along which trams (streetcars) run]
Tramore (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at Tramore, Co. Waterford, Ireland
trampet ( g ymnastics) a small trampoline used in
place of a springboard in vaulting
trampoline (trampolining) an apparatus in the
form of a strong fabric sheet connected by
springs to a horizontal frame, on which various
bouncing routines can be performed
161 Tour of Spain • trampoline
trampolining (sport) the performance in competition
or for recreation of routines on a trampoline
transfer (association football ) the move of a professional
player from one club to another, usually
for a transfer fee
transfer fee (association football ) the sum of money
paid by one club to another in exchange for the
acquisition of a professional player
transfer list (association football ) a list of players
available for transfer to another club
transfer window (association football ) the time
limit within which a transfer must be made
transition (basketball) the period of play immediately
following a change of possession
transition phase (Olympics) the phase in the
triathlon between the disciplines of swimming
and cycling or cycling and running, during
which competitors exchange one form of dress for
another
transverse lines (netball ) the lines dividing the
court into thirds
trap (American football ) a tactic in which an attacking
team allows a defender to cross the line
of scrimmage and blocks him from the side, enabling
the player in possession of the ball to
pass unopposed through the gap created; (association
football ) to control the ball with the feet
and stop it dead; (basketball) to guard the player
in possession of the ball with two defenders so
that he has little or no opportunity to make a
pass; ( golf ) shortening of sand trap (as an alternate
term for a bunker); (greyhound racing) another
name for the starting box; (shooting) a mechanical
device that releases the clay pigeons at
a particular speed and trajectory; (trapball) a
shoe-shaped wooden device with a pivoted bar
used to send the ball into the air
trap play (American football ) fuller term for a trap
trapball (sport) a game in which a ball placed on
one end of a trap is sent up into the air and
struck with a stick
trapshooting (shooting) the sport of shooting at
clay pigeons catapulted into the air by a trap
trash sports ( general ) competitive sports featuring
celebrities and shown on television as popular
entertainment
travel (horse racing) to run (in a specified manner)
along a racetrack
traveling (basketball) the offense of carrying the
ball for too many steps without dribbling; (netball
) the offense of carrying the ball
traverse (mountaineering) a sideways progression
across a rock face or slope from one conventional
line of ascent (or descent) to another; (skiing) (1)
a zigzag course down a slope; (2) one of the diagonal
runs made in such a descent
treadmill ( general ) a machine in a gymnasium
used for exercising, having a continuously moving
surface of adjustable speed on which the user
can run or walk
treble (association football ) the winning of three
trophies in a single season; (darts) a score of
three times the normal amount, gained by hitting
the inner bed of the dartboard; (horse racing)
(1) a bet on three races, in which the winnings
and stake from the first race are transferred
to the second, and those from the second, if successful,
to the third; (2) a total of three races won
by the same horse; (3) a total of three races won
by the same jockey in a meeting
treble chance (association football ) a form of betting
in football pools, in which three points are
awarded for a score draw, two points for a noscore
draw, and one point for a home win or
away win
treble hook (angling) a hook with three points
trebles for show, doubles for dough (darts) big
scorers do not always win matches, as although
trebles give a high score, it is the doubles that
often bring in the money (dough)
trench (shooting) a concrete structure in front of a
firing line from which clay pigeons are thrown
up by traps
trenches (American football ) the offensive and defensive
lines, as a scene of strenuous effort
Trent Bridge (cricket) the home ground of
Nottinghamshire county cricket club, Nottingham
trey (basketball) a three-point field goal
tri (sailing) colloquial abbreviation of trimaran
Tri-Nations Championship (rugby union) an annual
championship contested by the national
teams of Australia, New Zealand, and South
Africa since 1996
Tri-Nations Series (rugby league) former name of
the Four Nations Championship
trial ( general ) a match or competition to select
members of a major team
trial of strength ( general ) a contest such as
wrestling in which two or more opponents strive
to determine who has the greater strength
trialist ( general ) a competitor or player under consideration
for a place in a major team
trials (motorcycle racing) an event held over a crosscountry
circuit with a series of sections in which
competitors have to negotiate obstacles
triangle (angling) a set of three hooks fastened together
so that the barbs form a triangle; (snooker)
a triangular wooden frame in which the red balls
are positioned before the start of a game
triathlete (Olympics) a competitor in a triathlon
triathlon (Olympics) a race in which athletes compete
in swimming, cycling, and long-distance
trampolining • triathlon 162
running [Greek tri-, “three,” and athlon, “contest”]
tricast (horse racing) a bet on the first three horses
in a race in the correct order [blend of tri-,
“three,” and forecast]
trick skiing (water skiing) the execution of different
maneuvers, such as somersaults
trickle ( golf ) to strike a ball so that it travels slowly
over the ground
Tricolores (rugby union) nickname of the French
national team [French tricolores, “tricolors,” the
blue, white, and red colors of the team’s strip,
those of the national flag]
trifecta (horse racing) a bet on the first three horses
to finish in a race in the correct order [blend of
tri-, “three,” and perfecta]
triffis (trampolining) a triple somersault with a
twist
trimaran (sailing) a boat with three hulls [blend
of tri-, “three,” and catamaran]
trimmer (angling) a float with a reel attached to
a line with a baited hook, used in fishing for
pike
trip (horse racing) the distance of a race
triple (baseball ) a hit that allows the batter to reach
third base; (horse racing) another term for a trifecta;
(trampolining) a triple somersault
triple bogey (golf ) a score of three strokes over par
for a hole, three times that of a bogey
triple century (cricket) a score of 300 runs by a
batsman, the equivalent of three centuries
triple crown (auto racing) the (unofficial) feat of
winning the Indianapolis 500, Le Mans 24-
Hour race, and Monaco Grand Prix; (baseball )
the feat of leading the league in home runs, batting
average, and runs batted in in a single season;
(cycling) a collective name for the Giro d’Italia,
Tour de France, and World Road Race
Championship; (horse racing) (1) a collective
name for the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby,
and St. Leger or (in modern times) Prix de l’Arc
de Triomphe; (2) a collective name for the Kentucky
Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont
Stakes; (3) a collective name for the Hambletonian,
Yonkers Futurity, and Kentucky Futurity;
(4) a collective name for the William H. Cane
Futurity, Messenger Stake, and Little Brown
Jug; (rugby union) the victory by England, Scotland,
Wales, or Ireland in all three matches
against the other British Isles teams in the Six
Nations championship
triple double (basketball) the feat of recording double
figures in points, rebounds, and assists in a
single game
triple event (horse racing) another name for the
triple crown, as three of the five English Classics
triple header ( general ) an event at which three
consecutive matches are held
triple jump (athletics) an event in which an athlete
sprints down a runway then performs a
hop, step, and jump into a pit; (ice skating) a
jump incorporating three aerial turns
triple play (baseball ) a defensive play that puts
out three runners in a row
triples (bowls) a game in which three play against
three, each playing three bowls
troll (angling) to fish by drawing a revolving or
otherwise moving bait through the water
trophy ( general ) a cup or other decorative object
awarded to the winner of a sporting contest
trot (angling) shortening of trotline; (equestrianism)
a slowish gait in which the horse’s legs move in
diagonal pairs; (horse racing) colloquial term for
a trotting race
trotline (angling) a long line across a stream or
river to which shorter lines with baited hooks are
attached
trotter (horse racing) a horse bred or trained for
trotting in a harness race
Trotters (association football ) nickname of the English
club Bolton Wanderers [so named from
the team’s early home ground next to a piggery]
trotting (horse racing) the action of moving or racing
at a trot
trotting race (horse racing) a harness race in which
trotters compete
trout rod (angling) a fishing rod for trout
trout spoon (angling) a small revolving spoon used
as a lure for trout
truck (skateboarding) the steerable axle on a skateboard
truck and trailer (rugby union) an illegal move in
which the player carrying the ball (the “trailer”)
moves forward in loose play behind a teammate
(the “truck”) who shields him
trudgen (swimming) a stroke similar to the crawl
in which each hand in turn is raised above the
surface, thrust forward, and pulled back through
the water [first demonstrated in 1873 by the English
swimmer John Trudgen (1852–1902)]
trudgeon (swimming) an alternate (but incorrect)
spelling of trudgen
try (American football ) an attempt to score an extra
point after a touchdown; (rugby league, rugby
union) the act of placing the ball down in the
in-goal area, scoring points and entitling the
scoring side to a kick at goal
try a fall (wrestling) to take a bout
try line (rugby league, rugby union) the line on
which the goalposts stand and over which a
touchdown is made
Tsukahara ( g ymnastics) a vault consisting of a
quarter-turn or half-turn onto the horse fol-
163 tricast • Tsukahara
lowed by one and half somersaults off it [introduced
by the Japanese gymnast Mitsuo Tsukahara
(1947–)]
tsurikomi (judo) the technique of lifting and
pulling one’s opponent off balance during a
throw [Japanese tsuri, “lifting,” and komi,
“pushing in”]
TT (motorcycle racing) abbreviation of Tourist Trophy
tube (surfing) another term for a barrel
tubing (sport) the activity of floating down a stream
or sliding downhill on snow on the inflated inner
tube of an automobile tire
tuck ( g ymnastics) a position in which the gymnast
folds his body at the waist with his knees
and hips bent and pulled up into his chest; (skiing)
a squatting position adopted by some
downhill skiers, with the poles tucked under
their arms; (swimming) a position in diving in
which the diver pulls his thighs up to his chest,
bends his knees, and clasps his hands around his
shins
tuck position (g ymnastics, skiing, swimming) fuller
term for a tuck
tucked up (cricket) forced as a batsman to play
back and so make a cramped stroke
tug (gliding) the aircraft that tows the glider into
the air
tug of war (sport) a contest, formerly included in
the Olympics, in which opposing teams tug at
either end of a rope and endeavor to pull one
another over a central line
tumble run ( g ymnastics) a run incorporating a roll
in floor exercises
tumble turn (swimming) an underwater roll at the
end of a length in which the swimmer pushes off
from the end of the pool with his feet
tunnel ( general ) a covered way by which players
enter or leave the field of play in a sport such as
association football
turbo tennis (tennis) a sudden death match with
a 30-minute time limit imposed [from turbo- in
its implied sense of “boosted”]
turf (horse racing) (1) the grass surface of a racecourse,
as distinct from an all-weather one; (2)
a synonym for the sport itself and its world [in
this sense often spelled with a capital letter, as
“the Turf ”]
turf accountant (horse racing) another term for a
bookmaker
turf season (horse racing) the traditional flat-racing
season, from March to November
turfite (horse racing) colloquial term for a person devoted
to the sport
turfman (horse racing) alternate term for a turfite
TurfTrax (horse racing) proprietary name of a solarpowered
weather system used at racecourses to
give readings for atmospheric conditions and
ground and soil temperatures
turkey (tenpin bowling) colloquial term for three
successive strikes
turkey brown (angling) the mayfly Paraleptophlebia
submarginata as an artificial fly
Turkish grand prix (auto racing) the Formula One
international Grand Prix held on the circuit at
Istanbul, Turkey
turn (cricket) the deviation of a ball on a turner;
( golf ) the halfway point on a golf course, at
which the players turn to begin the return nine
holes
turn of foot (horse racing) a horse’s speed
turn one’s arm over (cricket) to bowl, especially
when not a regular bowler
turnaround ( general ) the point in a team game at
which the two teams change ends
turnaround jump shot (basketball) a jump shot in
which the player turns his back to the basket
and twists in midair
Turnberry ( golf ) a golf course at the village of the
same name on the east coast of Scotland
turner (cricket) a pitch on which the ball spins a
long way after landing
turnover ( general ) the loss of possession of the
ball to the opposing team, due to error or breach
of a rule
turntable (trampolining) a front drop with a lateral
rotation of 360 degrees as a side somersault performed
in the horizontal plane
turnverein ( g ymnastics) a club on the lines of those
founded for German immigrants to the United
States by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778–1852)
[German turnen, “to do gymnastic exercises,”
and Verein, “club”]
TV umpire (cricket) an official who has access to TV
replays and who may be consulted by a fielder
in cases of a questionable decision by the umpire
in response to an appeal
tweaker (cricket) colloquial term for a spin bowler
Tweddle ( g ymnastics) a release on the horizontal
bar or asymmetric bars in the form of a
Tkatchev with a late half twist [pioneered by
the British gymnast Beth Tweddle (1985–)]
twelfth man (association football ) colloquial term
for the supporters of a team or club (cricket) a
player selected beyond the regular eleven as a
reserve
twelve men (association football ) colloquial phrase
implying that a regular team of eleven had been
unfairly advantaged in a match by an erroneous
decision of the referee
twenty-five (field hockey, rugby league, rugby union)
shortening of twenty-five-yard line
twenty-five-yard line (field hockey) former name
tsuikomi • twenty-five 164
of the twenty-three-meter line; (rugby league) a
line formerly marked 25 yards from the try line,
replaced by the twenty-meter line; (rugby union)
a line formerly marked 25 yards from the try
line, replaced by the twenty-two-meter line
24 Hours of Le Mans (auto racing) another name
for the Le Mans 24-Hour race [translation of
French name les vingt-quatre heures du Mans]
twenty-meter line (rugby league) a line marked 20
meters from the try line
twenty-three-meter line (field hockey) a line
marked 23 meters from the backline
twenty20 (cricket) a fast-paced form of the game
introduced in 2002 in which each side can bat for
a maximum of 20 overs
Twenty20 Cup (cricket) the cup awarded to the
winner of the annual competition in the
twenty20 form of the game between first-class
counties, first held in 2003 and superseding the
Benson & Hedges Cup
Twenty20 World Championship (cricket) an annual
international championship in the
twenty20 form of the game, first held in 2007
twenty-two (rugby union) shortening of twentytwo-
meter line
twenty-two-meter line (rugby union) a line
marked 22 meters from the try line, showing
the limit of the area within which marks can be
made and from which kicks direct to touch can
gain ground
twi-night (baseball ) a set of two games played on
the same day, the first by daylight in the afternoon,
the second by artificial light in the evening
[blend of twilight and night]
Twickenham (rugby union) the home ground of
the England national team, in the London district
of this name
Twickers (rugby union) colloquial name of Twickenham
twiddler (table tennis) colloquial term for a player
using a combination bat, who turns it between
shots to confuse his opponent
twin double (horse racing) a bet on the winners of
four successive races
twin killing (baseball ) colloquial term for a double
play
twinbill (baseball ) another term for a double
header
Twins (baseball ) short name of the Minnesota
Twins team
twirler (cricket) colloquial term for a spin bowler
twist (cricket) a lateral spin imparted to the ball
by a bowler or the batsman; ( g ymnastics) a rotation
of the body around the spine in the longitudinal
axis; (swimming) a lateral rotation of
the body by a diver, often in addition to a somersault;
(table tennis) a lateral spin imparted to
the ball by the bat; (tennis) a lateral spin imparted
to the ball by the racket
twizzle (ice skating) a rapid rotation of the body
two (bowls) the second bowler in a rink, who usually
updates the scorecard; (cricket) (1) a hit for
two runs; (2) a guard of middle and leg [shortening
of two leg]
two and six (darts) a score of 26, gained by hitting
20, 5, and 1 when aiming for a treble 20
two-bagger (baseball ) another term for a double
two-eyed stance (cricket) the stance of a batsman
in which he turns his head to face the oncoming
ball as far as possible, keeping his left shoulder
on the line of the ball
two-fisted (tennis) holding the racket with both
hands
two-footed (association football ) able to kick the
ball equally well with either foot
200 meters (athletics) a sprint of the stated distance
two-minute suspension (handball ) a suspension
of two minutes awarded by the referee to a
player who has received a second warning or
shown faulty or unsportsmanlike conduct
two-minute warning (American football ) a
mandatory timeout occurring when two minutes
remain in the second and fourth quarters of a
game
two-platoon system (American football ) the system
of training and playing two separate platoons
Two Thousand Guineas (horse racing) an annual
race for three-year-old colts and fillies run over
the Rowley Mile at Newmarket since 1809 [original
value of prize, a guinea being 21 shillings]
two-wheeler (cycling) colloquial term for a cyclist
twosome ( golf ) a game between two players
Tykes (association football ) nickname of the English
club Barnsley [from tyke, local term for a
Yorkshireman]