Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (ice hockey) the trophy
awarded annually to the player best combining
clean play with a high standard of skill
[presented in 1925 by Lady Byng, née Marie
Evelyn Moreton (1870–1925), wife of Lord Byng
(1862–1935), governor general of Canada
(1921 –26)]
lag (billiards) another term for string
lag a putt ( golf ) to play a putt with the aim of
getting the ball near the hole but not necessarily
in it
Lake Placid (Olympics) a noted bobsled course in
New York State that was the venue of the Winter
Olympics in 1932 and 1980 and remains so
for world championships
Lakers (basketball) short name of the Los Angeles
Lakers team
lamé ( fencing) the metal mesh that covers the target
area of a fencer, used with electronic recording
equipment [French]
Lance Todd Trophy (rugby league) the trophy
awarded to the man of the match in the Challenge
Cup final [named in memory of the
British player Lance Todd (1883–1942)]
land ( general ) to win a race or a prize
land yacht (sailing) a wheeled boat with sails for
running on land, usually along beaches
landing mat ( gymnastics) the mat on which a gymnast
lands on completing a routine on apparatus
landing net (angling) a special net in which fish
are landed after being caught.
lane (athletics) a marked division of the track
within which an athlete must stay when running
a sprint race; (cycling) a marked division
of the track in a velodrome; (swimming) a
marked channel of a swimming pool in which
a swimmer must stay when competing in a
race; (tenpin bowling) the smooth wooden
runway along which the balls are bowled to the
pins
langlauf (skiing) another term for cross-country
skiing [German lang, “long,” and Lauf, “run”]
lanterne rouge (cycling) the rider in last place in the
general classification in a stage race [French
lanterne rouge, “red light,” from the red light on
the rear of a train]
lap ( general ) a completed circuit of a track or
course
lap of honor ( general ) a celebratory circuit of a
field or track made by a team or individual
competitor after a victory
lap shot (cricket) a hit by a batsman that goes
straight into the lap of the wicketkeeper
lapped (cycling) more than one lap behind the
leader in a track race
lappery (sport) colloquial term for auto racing [in
which contestants complete laps of the racetrack]
large hill (skiing) the larger of the two ski-jump
hills in the Winter Olympics, usually measuring
120m
Laser (sailing) a class of single-handed dinghy introduced
in 1971 [apparently random name]
last man (association football ) a sole defender between
an attacker and the goal, who commits a
foul if he prevents the attacker from taking a
clear opportunity to score a goal; (cricket) the
last batsman of his side to go in
late cut (cricket) a cut with a stroke played later
than usual
late tackle (association football ) a mistimed tackle
made after the ball has been played and making
contact with the player rather than with the ball,
so resulting in a foul
lateral (American football ) a sideways or backward
pass
lateral water hazard ( golf ) a water hazard that
runs parallel to the hole
lath (equestrianism) a thin white strip marking the
boundary of a water jump, used to indicate if a
horse fails to clear the jump.
Latics (association football ) colloquial name of the
English clubs Oldham Athletic and Wigan Athletic
[apparently a form of athletic]
laugher (baseball ) an easily won match [it was so
easy to win it was laughable]
law 29 (rugby union) an imaginary law relating to
conduct on the field that effectively equates to a
law of common sense
lawn bowls (bowls) the outdoor game, as distinct
from indoor bowls
lawn tennis (sport) the formal name of tennis, as
distinct from real tennis
lay (angling) to lower a weight or shot into the
water until it rests on the bottom with the hook
and bait; (horse racing) to place a bet on a horse
in a race
lay-in (basketball) a shot made at the top of a
jump, usually by bouncing the ball off the backboard
into the basket
lay off (association football, field hockey) to pass the
ball to a teammate who is in a better position
to make progress with it
lay on (association football, field hockey) to pass the
ball acurately so that a teammate can make the
next move
lay-up (basketball) a shot made at the top of a
jump in which the ball enters the basket after
being gently tipped onto the backboard; (croquet)
a shot that leaves the balls in a position
85 Lady • lay-up
that favors the player but puts his opponent at a
disadvantage; ( golf ) a shot played deliberately
short of a hazard or green
layback (mountaineering) a method of climbing a
crack by leaning back with the feet against the
rock face; (surfing) an extreme maneuver in
which the surfer lies back on a wave
layback spin (ice skating) an upright spin made
with the back arched
layout ( g ymnastics) a position in which the body is
fully extended, either straight or slightly arched;
(swimming) a dive in which the body and legs are
straight, with the feet together and the toes
pointed
Laytown (horse racing) a flat racecourse at Laytown,
Co. Meath, Ireland
lb (cricket) abbreviation of leg before
lbw (cricket) abbreviation of leg before wicket
lead [“first place”] (bowls) the first bowler in a
team, who has the advantage of bowling the
jack; (boxing) the first punch of two or more
from the same fist; (curling) the member of the
rink who plays first; (equestrianism) the leg that
the horse puts first in a canter; ( general ) (1) the
position of a competitor ahead of others in a race;
(2) the distance by which a competitor is ahead
of others; (mountaineering) the climber who goes
first, attaching safety aids such as belays
lead [“metal”] (angling) the lead weight or piece of
shot used at the end of a fishing line
lead change (equestrianism) a maneuver in dressage
in which the horse’s lead changes
lead dog (sled dog racing) the dog in the front place
in the team formation
lead-off hitter (baseball ) the player who bats first
for the batting side
lead-out (cycling) the tactic whereby a rider allows
a teammate to slipstream behind him as he rides
at high speed in order to give him an advantage
as he prepares to go into a sprint; (greyhound
racing) the official who parades the dogs before
a race and who retrieves them after it
lead pass (association football ) a pass into the
space in which a teammate has run forward,
so creating a potential opportunity to score a
goal
lead through (mountaineering) to act as an alternate
leader over a particular stretch of rock
lead with one’s chin (boxing) to adopt an awkward
stance that makes one vulnerable to punches [a
boxer normally leads with his fists]
leader (angling) a translucent connection between
the end of a fishing line and the hook or fly;
( general ) (1) the player or animal (as a horse or
dog) in the front place in a team; (2) the player
or team ahead of others in a race or match
leaderboard ( golf ) the scoreboard that lists the
names and scores of the current leaders in a
competition
league ( general ) a group of clubs or teams who
compete with one another for a championship
League Cup (association football ) the former name
of the Carling Cup
league football (Australian Rules, rugby league) the
game as played in leagues
league match ( general ) a match between two
clubs in the same league
league table ( general ) a table in which clubs in a
league are listed according to their results
Leander (rowing) Britain’s oldest and most prestigious
rowing club, founded in London in 1818
but now based at Henley, the site of the Henley
Royal Regatta [name of the rowboat from
which it evolved]
leash (surfing) the rubber cord used to attach the
surfboard to the surfer’s ankle
leather ( general ) colloquial term for the ball in
sports such as association football, baseball,
and cricket [from the leather covering (or formerly
covering) the ball]
leather on willow (sport) a byname for cricket
[from the leather struck by the willow]
leave (billiards) the position of the balls at the end
of a player’s stroke or break; (tenpin bowling)
the pins that remain standing after the first ball
ledger (angling) short name for ledger bait, ledger
line, or ledger tackle
ledger bait (angling) bait that is anchored to the
bottom [from a word related to lay or lie]
ledger line (angling) a fishing line fixed in one
place
ledger tackle (angling) the tackle used to keep the
ledger bait on the bottom
lee-oh! (sailing) the warning called by the helmsman
when the boat is about to come about
leech (sailing) the outside edge of a sail
leeward (sailing) toward the direction in which the
wind is blowing, as distinct from windward
left (boxing) a punch with the left fist
left arm (cricket) a player who bowls with the left arm
left back (field games) a back who plays primarily
on the left side of the pitch
left center (field games) a player who plays primarily
to the left of the center of the pitch
left cross (boxing) a punch delivered from the left
side
left defender (field games) a left half who plays
deep
left field (baseball ) the part of the outfield to the
left of second base as viewed from home plate
left fielder (baseball ) a fielder positioned in left
field
left half (field games) a halfback who plays primarily
on the left side of the pitch
layback • left half 86
left-hander (boxing) a punch delivered with the
left hand; ( general ) a player whose left hand is
dominant, as against the more common righthander;
(surfing) a wave breaking to the left, as
seen by a surfer facing the beach
left midfield (field games) the midfield players who
play primarily on the left side of the pitch
left wing (field games) the part of the pitch to the
left of its center
left winger (field games) an attacking player on the
left wing
leftie ( general ) colloquial term for a left-hander
leg (athletics) (1) a stage of a race; (2) a single runner’s
section of a relay; (cricket) shortening of
leg side; ( general ) a distinct part of a contest or
competition; (sailing) the distance covered on a
single tack
leg bail (cricket) the bail nearest the batsman
leg before (cricket) shortening of leg before wicket
leg before wicket (cricket) an infringement in which
the lower part of the leg of the batsman prevents
the ball bowled by the bowler from hitting the
wicket, as a result of which the batsman is out
leg break (cricket) a ball bowled by a slow bowler
that deviates from the leg side to the off side on
bouncing
leg bye (cricket) a bye scored after the ball bowled
by the bowler has touched any part of the batsman’s
person except his hands or the bat
leg circle ( g ymnastics) a move on the pommel
horse in which the legs are kept together and
swung in complete circles around the horse, the
hands being lifted to allow the legs to pass
leg cutter (cricket) a a ball bowled by a fast bowler
that deviates from the leg side to the off side on
bouncing
leg drive (cricket) a drive to the leg side
leg glance (cricket) a glance to the leg side
leg rope (surfing) another name for a leash
leg side (cricket) the side of the pitch on which the
batsman stands when waiting to receive a ball
from the bowler [his legs are on that side]
leg slip (cricket) a fielder positioned slightly behind
the batsman on the leg side
leg spin (cricket) the spin given to the ball by the
bowler so that it causes a leg break
leg spinner (cricket) a bowler who bowls leg spins
leg stump (cricket) the stump nearest the batsman
leg theory (cricket) the theory that favors bodyline
bowling, with a large number of fielders
on the leg side close to the wicket
leg trap (cricket) a group of fielders positioned for
catches on the leg side close to the wicket
Leger (horse racing) short name of the St. Leger
leggie (cricket) another spelling of leggy
leggy (cricket) colloquial term for a leg spinner
Leicester (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at South Knighton, near Leicester,
Leicesterhire, England
Le Mans (auto racing) short name of the Le Mans
24-Hour race
Le Mans 24-Hour race (auto racing) an annual
24-hour race for sports cars held since 1923 on
an 8.3 miles (13.4km) circuit near Le Mans,
northwestern France
length (cricket) a suitable distance for pitching a
ball, a “good length” being one that the batsman
finds hard to play; (greyhound racing) the
length of a greyhound’s body, used to indicate the
distance between two dogs finishing a race;
(horse racing) the length of a horse, used to indicate
the distance between two horses at the
finishing post; (rowing) the length of a boat,
used to judge the distance between two boats in
a race; (swimming) the length of a swimming
pool, as a measure of distance covered by a
swimmer; (tennis) the consistent ability of a
player to make shots to the back of the court
Lents (rowing) the boat races held in the Lent
(spring) term between colleges at Cambridge
University
Leonard Trophy (bowls) the trophy awarded to the
country with the best overall performances in the
men’s world championship [donated in 1966 by
W.M. Leonard, managing director of the Australian
company that originally sponsored it]
Leopardstown (horse racing) a flat and National
Hunt racecourse near Dublin, Ireland
leotard ( g ymnastics) a close-fitting one-piece garment
worn by gymnasts [first worn by the
French trapeze artist Jules Léotard (1830–1870)]
les autres (Olympics) the term used for competitors
in the Paralympic Games whose disability
does not fit into any of the other defined groups
[French les autres, “the others”]
Les Bleus (rugby union) nickname of the French
national team [French les bleus, “the blues,” for
the color of their strip]
Lester B. Pearson Award (ice hockey) the trophy
awarded to the outstanding player of the year
[named in honor of the Canadian prime minister
Lester B. Pearson (1897–1972)]
Lester Patrick Trophy (ice hockey) the trophy
awarded since 1966 for outstanding service to
the sport in the United States [named for Lester
Patrick (1883–1960), manager and coach of the
New York Rangers]
let (squash) a replayed point following unintentional
obstruction; (table tennis) a replayed
point; (tennis) (1) a serve that hits the net cord
before landing, and is accordingly replayed;
(2) a replayed point [not let, “permit,” but let,
“hinder”]
let-off (cricket) the reprieve of a batsman because
87 left-hander • let-off
a fielder has missed an opportunity of getting
him out
letter ( general ) an award to a player for achievement
in sport made by a school or college in the
form of a monogram (letter) representing the
name of the awarding establishment
letter jacket ( general ) a blouson-style jacket in
school or college colors bearing an embroidered
or sewn-on letter (originally as a sporting award
but now more generally)
letterbox (mountaineering) a rectangular opening in
a narrow rock ridge
levade (equestrianism) a movement in dressage in
which the horse rears up to balance on its
hindlegs with its forelegs drawn up [French levade,
“a raising”]
leveller (association football ) another term for an
equalizer
libero (association football ) another term for a
sweeper; (volleyball) a player who can be brought
on at any time to play in a defensive position
[short for Italian battitore libero, literally “free
beater” (i.e. “defender”)]
lido (swimming) an open-air swimming pool
[originally the name of a bathing beach near
Venice, Italy]
lie ( golf ) the position from which the ball has to
be played
Liège-Bastogne-Liège (cycling) an annual road
race in Belgium from Liège to Bastogne and
back (via a different route), first held in 1892
Liffey Descent (canoeing) an annual long-distance
race in Ireland down the Liffey River, first held
in 1959
lift (ice skating) in pair skating, a movement in
which the man lifts the woman in the air, as in
an axel lift; (weightlifting) the movement by
which a weightlifter lifts the barbell; (wrestling)
the movement by which a wrestler lifts an opponent
lifter (cricket) a ball, especially one bowled fast,
that rises sharply after striking the pitch
liftoff ( general ) another term for a takeoff
ligger (angling) a fishing line with a float and bait
which is left in the water, especially as a nightline
for pike fishing [related to lie]
Light Blues (association football ) a nickname of
the Scottish club Rangers [the team’s shirts are
lighter in color than those of the Dark Blues]
light flyweight (boxing) another term for junior
flyweight
light heavyweight (boxing) the professional weight
category of maximum 79kg (175lb)
light middleweight (boxing) another term for junior
middleweight
light welterweight (boxing) the professional
weight category of maximum 63.5kg (140lb)
Lightning (ice hockey) short name of the Tampa
Bay Lightning team
lightweight (boxing) the professional weight category
of maximum 61kg (135lb)
lightweight rowing (rowing) a contest for rowers
weighing less than 70kg (154lb)
Lilienthal Medal (gliding) the sport’s highest
award, instituted in 1928 [named in memory of
the German aeronautical pioneer Otto Lilienthal
(1848–1896)]
Lilywhites (association football ) nickname of the
English club Preston North End [so called from
the color of the team’s strip]
limb (archery) the upper or lower half of a bow
Limerick (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse in Co. Limerick, Ireland
limited-over (cricket) (of ) a match in which the
number of overs is restricted
Lincoln Handicap (horse racing) a flat race
run annually at Doncaster [until 1965 run at
Lincoln and known as the Lincolnshire Handicap]
line (American football ) (1) the odds set by bookmakers;
(2) the players who line up on or near the
line of scrimmage; (angling) shortening of
fishing line; (cricket) the direction of flight of a
ball bowled by the bowler; ( general ) (1) a mark
that limits an area of play or that must be crossed
to score or to win a race; (2) a strategic formation
of players in a row in a team game such as American
football or ice hockey; ( golf ) the direction
of the hole from the position of a player’s ball
line call (tennis) a call on the status of a shot, made
by an umpire or line judge
line drive (baseball ) a hard-hit ball with a flat trajectory
line-fishing (angling) fishing with a line rather
than a net
line judge (American football ) the member of the
officiating team who monitors the line of scrimmage;
(tennis) an official who watches a line to
judge whether a shot is in or out
line of scrimmage (American football ) an imaginary
line across the field behind which the linemen
of a team position themselves at the start of
play
line orienteering (orienteering) the following of a
set route marked on a master map
line player (handball ) another term for a pivot
linebacker (American football ) a defensive player
positioned just behind the line of scrimmage
lineman (American football ) any player who lines
up on the line of scrimmage
lineout (rugby union) the means of restarting play
after the ball has gone into touch, in which the
two sets of forwards form a line facing the
touchline and a player from the opposing team
letter • lineout 88
throws the ball in, upon which the jumpers attempt
to gain possession
liner (baseball ) a ball which when struck flies
through the air in a nearly straight line not far
from the ground
linesman (American football, tennis) another term
for a line judge; (association football ) the former
name of an assistant referee; (ice hockey) an
official responsible for calling any infraction regarding
the blue line or red line
lineup (billiards) the positioning of three balls in
a direct line, with one’s opponent’s ball between
the cue ball and the red; ( general ) a list of proposed
or actual members of a team, entrants for
a race, or the like; (surfing) the place where
surfers wait for waves to break, lining themselves
up with a particular point on the shore
Lingfield Park (horse racing) a flat and National
Hunt racecourse near Lingfield, Surrey, England
linkman (association football, field hockey) a player
who acts as a link between the center forwards
and the backs
links ( golf ) shortening of golf links
lino (association football ) colloquial name for a
linesman
Lions (American football ) short name of the Detroit
Lions team; (association football ) nickname of
the English club Millwall [from their selfacclaimed
prowess]; (Australian Rules) short
name of the Brisbane Lions team; (Canadian
football ) short name of the British Columbia
Lions team; (rugby league) short name of the English
club Swinton Lions; (rugby union) popular
name of the British and Irish Lions, a touring
team made up of players from the British
Isles [named from the lion on the team’s official
necktie]
lip ( golf ) the edge or rim of the hole
lip out ( golf ) to hit the lip of the hole but not fall
in
liptrick (snowboarding) a trick performed on or
near the lip of the wall of the half-pipe
listed race (horse racing) a flat race that is less important
than a pattern race but still highly
prized
Listowel (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Little Brown Jug (horse racing) an annual harness
race for three-year-old pacers, run at Delaware,
Ohio, since 1946 [named by newspaper vote
after the popular song of 1869]
Little League (baseball ) an international organization
for children and young people, founded
in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1939
Little Three (American football ) the college football
teams of Amherst College, Wesleyan University,
and Williams College; (basketball) the
teams of Canisius College, Niagara University,
and St. Bonaventure College
live bait (angling) a living worm or small fish used
as bait
Livi Lions (association football ) nickname of the
Scottish club Livingston
load (horse racing) to ride or lead a horse into the
starting stalls before a race
load the bases (baseball ) to place baserunners at
first base, second base, and third base
loan (association football ) the temporary transfer of
a player from one club to another with no transfer
fee involved
lob (cricket) a low underhand ball bowled by the
bowler; ( general ) a hit or kick that sends the
ball in a high arc, usually for strategic reasons,
for example to score a goal
lob wedge ( golf ) a wedge with a high degree of
loft, used to play pitch shots and flop shots
local derby (association football ) a match between
rival teams from the same area [after the Derby]
lock (rugby league, rugby union) one of the two
players in the second row of the scrum, behind
the hooker; (wrestling) a hold that prevents an
opponent from moving the part held
lock forward (rugby league, rugby union) an alternate
name for the forward who is a lock
locker room ( general ) (1) a room for changing
clothes and storing belongings in a locker, as in
a pavilion, gymnasium, or sports center or at
a swimming pool; (2) the equivalent of a
changing room as a place where individual participants
and team members can discuss tactics
or fellow players, be addressed by their captain,
manager, or coach, and the like
loft ( general ) a stroke or hit that sends a ball up
high; ( golf ) the degree of angle at which a clubhead
is set
lofter ( golf ) a golf club, especially an 8-iron, used
for a loft
log (surfing) a large, cumbersome surfboard
lollipop (association football ) colloquial term for
a stepover; (auto racing) colloquial term for
the sign on a stick used to give instructions
to a driver during a pit stop; (bowls) colloquial
term for one of the small colored lollipopshaped
pieces of plastic held up by the marker
to indicate the number of shots gained in an
end
lolly (cricket) colloquial term for an easy catch
[shortening of lollipop, with a suggestion of
dolly]
London Marathon (athletics) an annual marathon
run since 1981 over a course in London, England,
to raise money for charity
London to Brighton Walk (athletics) an annual
53-mile (85km) race walking event between
89 liner • London
London and Brighton, England, first held in 1919
but discontinued in 2003
long ball ( general ) a ball hit, kicked, or thrown a
long way
long bomb (American football ) a play in which a
quarterback throws a long ball to a receiver positioned
near the end zone to score a touchdown
long corner (field hockey) a free hit taken from the
corner of the goal line
long-distance race ( general ) a race over a long distance,
as in long-distance running
long-distance runner (athletics) a runner in a longdistance
race
long-distance running (athletics) a blanket term
for the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters foot
races
long field (cricket) a fielding position near the
boundary on the bowler’s side, or more
specifically long off or long on
long game ( golf ) the various kinds of play needed
to reach the green
long hop (cricket) a ball bowled so that it makes a
long flight after pitching or bouncing
long iron ( golf ) an iron used to play long shots
long jump (athletics) a field event in which an athlete
sprints down a runway then leaps as far as
possible off the board to land in the pit
long leg (cricket) a fielding position on the boundary
behind the batsman on the leg side
long odds (horse racing) odds in a bet that are unfavorable
in terms of risk but favorable in terms
of potential gain
long off (cricket) a fielding position on the boundary
behind the bowler on the off side
long on (cricket) a fielding position on the boundary
behind the bowler on the leg side
long reliever (baseball ) a relief pitcher used to
pitch several innings if the starting pitcher has
to be removed from the game
Long Room (cricket) a large room in the pavilion
at Lord’s which every player must pass through
before going out to the field of play
long throw (association football ) a throw-in that
sends the ball into or near the goal area of the
opposing team, thus giving an opportunity for
a teammate to score
long-track racing (motorcycle racing) a form of
speedway over 1,000-meter tracks
Long Western (archery) a round of 48 arrows for
men and women respectively at 80 and 60yds
(73m and 55m)
longboard (surfing) an extra long surfboard, such
as a Malibu
Longchamp (horse racing) a noted racecourse near
Paris, France
longeur (equestrianism) in vaulting, the person
who leads round the horse while the rider performs
gymnastic maneuvers [French longeur,
“person who walks alongside”]
longstop (cricket) a now rarely used fielding position
directly behind the wicket to stop balls
missed by the wicketkeeper
Lonsdale Belt (boxing) the trophy in the form of
a belt awarded for winning the same title three
times in succession [presented in 1909 by Lord
Lonsdale (1857–1944), president of the National
Sporting Club]
look for runs (cricket) to take every opportunity,
as a batsman, to score a run
look-in (American football ) a quick pass made to
a receiver running diagonally across the center of
the field
loom (rowing) the long section of the oar between
the handle and the blade
Loons (association football ) nickname of the Scottish
club Forfar Athletic [Scots loon, “boy,” “lad”]
loop (ice skating) shortening of loop jump; (table
tennis) a shot that places heavy topspin on the
ball
loop jump (ice skating) a jump in which the skater
takes off from the back outside edge, makes a full
turn in the air, then lands on the same edge
loose (rugby union) (of ) forward play that does not
involve scrums or lineouts
loose ball (association football ) a ball not in the
possession of either team
loose box (horse racing) a part of a stable where
horses are kept untied [“loose” because they can
move about]
loose forward (rugby league) the forward who
binds at the back of the scrum behind the two
second-row forwards; (rugby union) (1) either
of the two wing forwards; (2) the forward who
binds at the back of the scrum
loose head (rugby league, rugby union) the forward
in the front row of the scrum closest to the
scrum half as he puts the ball in
loose-head prop (rugby league, rugby union) the
prop forward on the left of the front row in the
scrum
loose scrum (rugby league, rugby union) a scrum
formed by the players around the ball during
play, as distinct from one ordered by the referee
loosen up ( general ) to exercise gently in preparation
for a full effort, as in athletics
loosener (cricket) an indifferent ball bowled by the
bowler before he is fully warmed up
Lord’s (cricket) the home ground of Middlesex
county cricket club, London, that is the headquarters
of the Marylebone Cricket Club and
a regular venue for test matches [founded in
Marylebone in 1787 by Thomas Lord (1755–
1832) but in 1814 moved to St. John’s Wood, to
the northwest]
long • Lord’s 90
loser (billiards, snooker) colloquial term for a losing
hazard
losing hazard (billiards, snooker) a stroke in which
a player’s own ball goes into a pocket after contact
with another ball
lost ball (cricket) a situation in which the ball cannot
be found or recovered, as a result of which
it is declared dead
lot (horse racing) a batch of horses grouped for daily
exercise, as in a gallop
love (tennis) a zero score [probably from love in the
sense “nothing,” as in “labor of love”]
love-all (tennis) a score of no points on either side
love-fifteen (tennis) a score of no points to the
server and one point to the opponent
love-five (tennis) colloquial term for a score of
love-fifteen
love-forty (tennis) a score of no points to the
server and three points to the opponent
love game (tennis) a game in which a player fails to
score a point
love set (tennis) a set in which a player fails to score
a point
love-thirty (tennis) a score of no points to the
server and two points to the opponent
low bar ( g ymnastics) the lower of the two asymmetric
bars
low house (shooting) the lower trap in skeet
low post (basketball) the part of the court just outside
the foul lane and under the basket
low side ( golf ) an underestimate of the borrow
required when making a putt
lowball (baseball ) a ball pitched in such a way that
it passes over the plate below the level of the
batter
Ludlow (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Bromfield, near Ludlow, Shropshire, England
luff (sailing) to turn a boat toward the wind
lug (sailing) to carry too much sail
Lugano Trophy (athletics) the trophy awarded to
the winner of the world championship in race
walking [first won in 1961 in Lugano, Switzerland]
luge (sport) a race on the specially designed light toboggan
so named [Swiss French luge]
lugworm (angling) a sluggish worm found in the
sand on the seashore, used for bait
lunch (cricket) the first meal break of the day during
a match, regarded as a time point for the
number of runs scored
lunge ( fencing) a sudden attack with the sword,
made with the back leg straightened and the
body and front leg thrust forward; ( g ymnastics)
a sudden movement forward or sideways, made
with one leg bent at the knee and the other
stretched out behind
Lupi (association football ) nickname of the Italian
club AS Roma [Italian lupi, “wolves,” from the
legend that Rome was founded by Romulus and
Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf ]
lure (angling) a type of brightly-colored artificial
fly; (greyhound racing) the object resembling a
hare that is chased by the dogs in a race as it is
electrically driven around the inside of the track
lutz (ice skating) a jump from the back outside
edge of one skate to the same edge of the other
skate, with a complete rotation while in the air
[said to have been invented by the Swiss skater
Gustave Lussi (1898–1993)]
Luzhniki ( general ) a sports complex in Moscow,
Russia, that was one of the main arenas for the
1980 Olympic Games
Lynx (rugby league) short name of the English club
Chorley Lynx
awarded annually to the player best combining
clean play with a high standard of skill
[presented in 1925 by Lady Byng, née Marie
Evelyn Moreton (1870–1925), wife of Lord Byng
(1862–1935), governor general of Canada
(1921 –26)]
lag (billiards) another term for string
lag a putt ( golf ) to play a putt with the aim of
getting the ball near the hole but not necessarily
in it
Lake Placid (Olympics) a noted bobsled course in
New York State that was the venue of the Winter
Olympics in 1932 and 1980 and remains so
for world championships
Lakers (basketball) short name of the Los Angeles
Lakers team
lamé ( fencing) the metal mesh that covers the target
area of a fencer, used with electronic recording
equipment [French]
Lance Todd Trophy (rugby league) the trophy
awarded to the man of the match in the Challenge
Cup final [named in memory of the
British player Lance Todd (1883–1942)]
land ( general ) to win a race or a prize
land yacht (sailing) a wheeled boat with sails for
running on land, usually along beaches
landing mat ( gymnastics) the mat on which a gymnast
lands on completing a routine on apparatus
landing net (angling) a special net in which fish
are landed after being caught.
lane (athletics) a marked division of the track
within which an athlete must stay when running
a sprint race; (cycling) a marked division
of the track in a velodrome; (swimming) a
marked channel of a swimming pool in which
a swimmer must stay when competing in a
race; (tenpin bowling) the smooth wooden
runway along which the balls are bowled to the
pins
langlauf (skiing) another term for cross-country
skiing [German lang, “long,” and Lauf, “run”]
lanterne rouge (cycling) the rider in last place in the
general classification in a stage race [French
lanterne rouge, “red light,” from the red light on
the rear of a train]
lap ( general ) a completed circuit of a track or
course
lap of honor ( general ) a celebratory circuit of a
field or track made by a team or individual
competitor after a victory
lap shot (cricket) a hit by a batsman that goes
straight into the lap of the wicketkeeper
lapped (cycling) more than one lap behind the
leader in a track race
lappery (sport) colloquial term for auto racing [in
which contestants complete laps of the racetrack]
large hill (skiing) the larger of the two ski-jump
hills in the Winter Olympics, usually measuring
120m
Laser (sailing) a class of single-handed dinghy introduced
in 1971 [apparently random name]
last man (association football ) a sole defender between
an attacker and the goal, who commits a
foul if he prevents the attacker from taking a
clear opportunity to score a goal; (cricket) the
last batsman of his side to go in
late cut (cricket) a cut with a stroke played later
than usual
late tackle (association football ) a mistimed tackle
made after the ball has been played and making
contact with the player rather than with the ball,
so resulting in a foul
lateral (American football ) a sideways or backward
pass
lateral water hazard ( golf ) a water hazard that
runs parallel to the hole
lath (equestrianism) a thin white strip marking the
boundary of a water jump, used to indicate if a
horse fails to clear the jump.
Latics (association football ) colloquial name of the
English clubs Oldham Athletic and Wigan Athletic
[apparently a form of athletic]
laugher (baseball ) an easily won match [it was so
easy to win it was laughable]
law 29 (rugby union) an imaginary law relating to
conduct on the field that effectively equates to a
law of common sense
lawn bowls (bowls) the outdoor game, as distinct
from indoor bowls
lawn tennis (sport) the formal name of tennis, as
distinct from real tennis
lay (angling) to lower a weight or shot into the
water until it rests on the bottom with the hook
and bait; (horse racing) to place a bet on a horse
in a race
lay-in (basketball) a shot made at the top of a
jump, usually by bouncing the ball off the backboard
into the basket
lay off (association football, field hockey) to pass the
ball to a teammate who is in a better position
to make progress with it
lay on (association football, field hockey) to pass the
ball acurately so that a teammate can make the
next move
lay-up (basketball) a shot made at the top of a
jump in which the ball enters the basket after
being gently tipped onto the backboard; (croquet)
a shot that leaves the balls in a position
85 Lady • lay-up
that favors the player but puts his opponent at a
disadvantage; ( golf ) a shot played deliberately
short of a hazard or green
layback (mountaineering) a method of climbing a
crack by leaning back with the feet against the
rock face; (surfing) an extreme maneuver in
which the surfer lies back on a wave
layback spin (ice skating) an upright spin made
with the back arched
layout ( g ymnastics) a position in which the body is
fully extended, either straight or slightly arched;
(swimming) a dive in which the body and legs are
straight, with the feet together and the toes
pointed
Laytown (horse racing) a flat racecourse at Laytown,
Co. Meath, Ireland
lb (cricket) abbreviation of leg before
lbw (cricket) abbreviation of leg before wicket
lead [“first place”] (bowls) the first bowler in a
team, who has the advantage of bowling the
jack; (boxing) the first punch of two or more
from the same fist; (curling) the member of the
rink who plays first; (equestrianism) the leg that
the horse puts first in a canter; ( general ) (1) the
position of a competitor ahead of others in a race;
(2) the distance by which a competitor is ahead
of others; (mountaineering) the climber who goes
first, attaching safety aids such as belays
lead [“metal”] (angling) the lead weight or piece of
shot used at the end of a fishing line
lead change (equestrianism) a maneuver in dressage
in which the horse’s lead changes
lead dog (sled dog racing) the dog in the front place
in the team formation
lead-off hitter (baseball ) the player who bats first
for the batting side
lead-out (cycling) the tactic whereby a rider allows
a teammate to slipstream behind him as he rides
at high speed in order to give him an advantage
as he prepares to go into a sprint; (greyhound
racing) the official who parades the dogs before
a race and who retrieves them after it
lead pass (association football ) a pass into the
space in which a teammate has run forward,
so creating a potential opportunity to score a
goal
lead through (mountaineering) to act as an alternate
leader over a particular stretch of rock
lead with one’s chin (boxing) to adopt an awkward
stance that makes one vulnerable to punches [a
boxer normally leads with his fists]
leader (angling) a translucent connection between
the end of a fishing line and the hook or fly;
( general ) (1) the player or animal (as a horse or
dog) in the front place in a team; (2) the player
or team ahead of others in a race or match
leaderboard ( golf ) the scoreboard that lists the
names and scores of the current leaders in a
competition
league ( general ) a group of clubs or teams who
compete with one another for a championship
League Cup (association football ) the former name
of the Carling Cup
league football (Australian Rules, rugby league) the
game as played in leagues
league match ( general ) a match between two
clubs in the same league
league table ( general ) a table in which clubs in a
league are listed according to their results
Leander (rowing) Britain’s oldest and most prestigious
rowing club, founded in London in 1818
but now based at Henley, the site of the Henley
Royal Regatta [name of the rowboat from
which it evolved]
leash (surfing) the rubber cord used to attach the
surfboard to the surfer’s ankle
leather ( general ) colloquial term for the ball in
sports such as association football, baseball,
and cricket [from the leather covering (or formerly
covering) the ball]
leather on willow (sport) a byname for cricket
[from the leather struck by the willow]
leave (billiards) the position of the balls at the end
of a player’s stroke or break; (tenpin bowling)
the pins that remain standing after the first ball
ledger (angling) short name for ledger bait, ledger
line, or ledger tackle
ledger bait (angling) bait that is anchored to the
bottom [from a word related to lay or lie]
ledger line (angling) a fishing line fixed in one
place
ledger tackle (angling) the tackle used to keep the
ledger bait on the bottom
lee-oh! (sailing) the warning called by the helmsman
when the boat is about to come about
leech (sailing) the outside edge of a sail
leeward (sailing) toward the direction in which the
wind is blowing, as distinct from windward
left (boxing) a punch with the left fist
left arm (cricket) a player who bowls with the left arm
left back (field games) a back who plays primarily
on the left side of the pitch
left center (field games) a player who plays primarily
to the left of the center of the pitch
left cross (boxing) a punch delivered from the left
side
left defender (field games) a left half who plays
deep
left field (baseball ) the part of the outfield to the
left of second base as viewed from home plate
left fielder (baseball ) a fielder positioned in left
field
left half (field games) a halfback who plays primarily
on the left side of the pitch
layback • left half 86
left-hander (boxing) a punch delivered with the
left hand; ( general ) a player whose left hand is
dominant, as against the more common righthander;
(surfing) a wave breaking to the left, as
seen by a surfer facing the beach
left midfield (field games) the midfield players who
play primarily on the left side of the pitch
left wing (field games) the part of the pitch to the
left of its center
left winger (field games) an attacking player on the
left wing
leftie ( general ) colloquial term for a left-hander
leg (athletics) (1) a stage of a race; (2) a single runner’s
section of a relay; (cricket) shortening of
leg side; ( general ) a distinct part of a contest or
competition; (sailing) the distance covered on a
single tack
leg bail (cricket) the bail nearest the batsman
leg before (cricket) shortening of leg before wicket
leg before wicket (cricket) an infringement in which
the lower part of the leg of the batsman prevents
the ball bowled by the bowler from hitting the
wicket, as a result of which the batsman is out
leg break (cricket) a ball bowled by a slow bowler
that deviates from the leg side to the off side on
bouncing
leg bye (cricket) a bye scored after the ball bowled
by the bowler has touched any part of the batsman’s
person except his hands or the bat
leg circle ( g ymnastics) a move on the pommel
horse in which the legs are kept together and
swung in complete circles around the horse, the
hands being lifted to allow the legs to pass
leg cutter (cricket) a a ball bowled by a fast bowler
that deviates from the leg side to the off side on
bouncing
leg drive (cricket) a drive to the leg side
leg glance (cricket) a glance to the leg side
leg rope (surfing) another name for a leash
leg side (cricket) the side of the pitch on which the
batsman stands when waiting to receive a ball
from the bowler [his legs are on that side]
leg slip (cricket) a fielder positioned slightly behind
the batsman on the leg side
leg spin (cricket) the spin given to the ball by the
bowler so that it causes a leg break
leg spinner (cricket) a bowler who bowls leg spins
leg stump (cricket) the stump nearest the batsman
leg theory (cricket) the theory that favors bodyline
bowling, with a large number of fielders
on the leg side close to the wicket
leg trap (cricket) a group of fielders positioned for
catches on the leg side close to the wicket
Leger (horse racing) short name of the St. Leger
leggie (cricket) another spelling of leggy
leggy (cricket) colloquial term for a leg spinner
Leicester (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at South Knighton, near Leicester,
Leicesterhire, England
Le Mans (auto racing) short name of the Le Mans
24-Hour race
Le Mans 24-Hour race (auto racing) an annual
24-hour race for sports cars held since 1923 on
an 8.3 miles (13.4km) circuit near Le Mans,
northwestern France
length (cricket) a suitable distance for pitching a
ball, a “good length” being one that the batsman
finds hard to play; (greyhound racing) the
length of a greyhound’s body, used to indicate the
distance between two dogs finishing a race;
(horse racing) the length of a horse, used to indicate
the distance between two horses at the
finishing post; (rowing) the length of a boat,
used to judge the distance between two boats in
a race; (swimming) the length of a swimming
pool, as a measure of distance covered by a
swimmer; (tennis) the consistent ability of a
player to make shots to the back of the court
Lents (rowing) the boat races held in the Lent
(spring) term between colleges at Cambridge
University
Leonard Trophy (bowls) the trophy awarded to the
country with the best overall performances in the
men’s world championship [donated in 1966 by
W.M. Leonard, managing director of the Australian
company that originally sponsored it]
Leopardstown (horse racing) a flat and National
Hunt racecourse near Dublin, Ireland
leotard ( g ymnastics) a close-fitting one-piece garment
worn by gymnasts [first worn by the
French trapeze artist Jules Léotard (1830–1870)]
les autres (Olympics) the term used for competitors
in the Paralympic Games whose disability
does not fit into any of the other defined groups
[French les autres, “the others”]
Les Bleus (rugby union) nickname of the French
national team [French les bleus, “the blues,” for
the color of their strip]
Lester B. Pearson Award (ice hockey) the trophy
awarded to the outstanding player of the year
[named in honor of the Canadian prime minister
Lester B. Pearson (1897–1972)]
Lester Patrick Trophy (ice hockey) the trophy
awarded since 1966 for outstanding service to
the sport in the United States [named for Lester
Patrick (1883–1960), manager and coach of the
New York Rangers]
let (squash) a replayed point following unintentional
obstruction; (table tennis) a replayed
point; (tennis) (1) a serve that hits the net cord
before landing, and is accordingly replayed;
(2) a replayed point [not let, “permit,” but let,
“hinder”]
let-off (cricket) the reprieve of a batsman because
87 left-hander • let-off
a fielder has missed an opportunity of getting
him out
letter ( general ) an award to a player for achievement
in sport made by a school or college in the
form of a monogram (letter) representing the
name of the awarding establishment
letter jacket ( general ) a blouson-style jacket in
school or college colors bearing an embroidered
or sewn-on letter (originally as a sporting award
but now more generally)
letterbox (mountaineering) a rectangular opening in
a narrow rock ridge
levade (equestrianism) a movement in dressage in
which the horse rears up to balance on its
hindlegs with its forelegs drawn up [French levade,
“a raising”]
leveller (association football ) another term for an
equalizer
libero (association football ) another term for a
sweeper; (volleyball) a player who can be brought
on at any time to play in a defensive position
[short for Italian battitore libero, literally “free
beater” (i.e. “defender”)]
lido (swimming) an open-air swimming pool
[originally the name of a bathing beach near
Venice, Italy]
lie ( golf ) the position from which the ball has to
be played
Liège-Bastogne-Liège (cycling) an annual road
race in Belgium from Liège to Bastogne and
back (via a different route), first held in 1892
Liffey Descent (canoeing) an annual long-distance
race in Ireland down the Liffey River, first held
in 1959
lift (ice skating) in pair skating, a movement in
which the man lifts the woman in the air, as in
an axel lift; (weightlifting) the movement by
which a weightlifter lifts the barbell; (wrestling)
the movement by which a wrestler lifts an opponent
lifter (cricket) a ball, especially one bowled fast,
that rises sharply after striking the pitch
liftoff ( general ) another term for a takeoff
ligger (angling) a fishing line with a float and bait
which is left in the water, especially as a nightline
for pike fishing [related to lie]
Light Blues (association football ) a nickname of
the Scottish club Rangers [the team’s shirts are
lighter in color than those of the Dark Blues]
light flyweight (boxing) another term for junior
flyweight
light heavyweight (boxing) the professional weight
category of maximum 79kg (175lb)
light middleweight (boxing) another term for junior
middleweight
light welterweight (boxing) the professional
weight category of maximum 63.5kg (140lb)
Lightning (ice hockey) short name of the Tampa
Bay Lightning team
lightweight (boxing) the professional weight category
of maximum 61kg (135lb)
lightweight rowing (rowing) a contest for rowers
weighing less than 70kg (154lb)
Lilienthal Medal (gliding) the sport’s highest
award, instituted in 1928 [named in memory of
the German aeronautical pioneer Otto Lilienthal
(1848–1896)]
Lilywhites (association football ) nickname of the
English club Preston North End [so called from
the color of the team’s strip]
limb (archery) the upper or lower half of a bow
Limerick (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse in Co. Limerick, Ireland
limited-over (cricket) (of ) a match in which the
number of overs is restricted
Lincoln Handicap (horse racing) a flat race
run annually at Doncaster [until 1965 run at
Lincoln and known as the Lincolnshire Handicap]
line (American football ) (1) the odds set by bookmakers;
(2) the players who line up on or near the
line of scrimmage; (angling) shortening of
fishing line; (cricket) the direction of flight of a
ball bowled by the bowler; ( general ) (1) a mark
that limits an area of play or that must be crossed
to score or to win a race; (2) a strategic formation
of players in a row in a team game such as American
football or ice hockey; ( golf ) the direction
of the hole from the position of a player’s ball
line call (tennis) a call on the status of a shot, made
by an umpire or line judge
line drive (baseball ) a hard-hit ball with a flat trajectory
line-fishing (angling) fishing with a line rather
than a net
line judge (American football ) the member of the
officiating team who monitors the line of scrimmage;
(tennis) an official who watches a line to
judge whether a shot is in or out
line of scrimmage (American football ) an imaginary
line across the field behind which the linemen
of a team position themselves at the start of
play
line orienteering (orienteering) the following of a
set route marked on a master map
line player (handball ) another term for a pivot
linebacker (American football ) a defensive player
positioned just behind the line of scrimmage
lineman (American football ) any player who lines
up on the line of scrimmage
lineout (rugby union) the means of restarting play
after the ball has gone into touch, in which the
two sets of forwards form a line facing the
touchline and a player from the opposing team
letter • lineout 88
throws the ball in, upon which the jumpers attempt
to gain possession
liner (baseball ) a ball which when struck flies
through the air in a nearly straight line not far
from the ground
linesman (American football, tennis) another term
for a line judge; (association football ) the former
name of an assistant referee; (ice hockey) an
official responsible for calling any infraction regarding
the blue line or red line
lineup (billiards) the positioning of three balls in
a direct line, with one’s opponent’s ball between
the cue ball and the red; ( general ) a list of proposed
or actual members of a team, entrants for
a race, or the like; (surfing) the place where
surfers wait for waves to break, lining themselves
up with a particular point on the shore
Lingfield Park (horse racing) a flat and National
Hunt racecourse near Lingfield, Surrey, England
linkman (association football, field hockey) a player
who acts as a link between the center forwards
and the backs
links ( golf ) shortening of golf links
lino (association football ) colloquial name for a
linesman
Lions (American football ) short name of the Detroit
Lions team; (association football ) nickname of
the English club Millwall [from their selfacclaimed
prowess]; (Australian Rules) short
name of the Brisbane Lions team; (Canadian
football ) short name of the British Columbia
Lions team; (rugby league) short name of the English
club Swinton Lions; (rugby union) popular
name of the British and Irish Lions, a touring
team made up of players from the British
Isles [named from the lion on the team’s official
necktie]
lip ( golf ) the edge or rim of the hole
lip out ( golf ) to hit the lip of the hole but not fall
in
liptrick (snowboarding) a trick performed on or
near the lip of the wall of the half-pipe
listed race (horse racing) a flat race that is less important
than a pattern race but still highly
prized
Listowel (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Little Brown Jug (horse racing) an annual harness
race for three-year-old pacers, run at Delaware,
Ohio, since 1946 [named by newspaper vote
after the popular song of 1869]
Little League (baseball ) an international organization
for children and young people, founded
in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1939
Little Three (American football ) the college football
teams of Amherst College, Wesleyan University,
and Williams College; (basketball) the
teams of Canisius College, Niagara University,
and St. Bonaventure College
live bait (angling) a living worm or small fish used
as bait
Livi Lions (association football ) nickname of the
Scottish club Livingston
load (horse racing) to ride or lead a horse into the
starting stalls before a race
load the bases (baseball ) to place baserunners at
first base, second base, and third base
loan (association football ) the temporary transfer of
a player from one club to another with no transfer
fee involved
lob (cricket) a low underhand ball bowled by the
bowler; ( general ) a hit or kick that sends the
ball in a high arc, usually for strategic reasons,
for example to score a goal
lob wedge ( golf ) a wedge with a high degree of
loft, used to play pitch shots and flop shots
local derby (association football ) a match between
rival teams from the same area [after the Derby]
lock (rugby league, rugby union) one of the two
players in the second row of the scrum, behind
the hooker; (wrestling) a hold that prevents an
opponent from moving the part held
lock forward (rugby league, rugby union) an alternate
name for the forward who is a lock
locker room ( general ) (1) a room for changing
clothes and storing belongings in a locker, as in
a pavilion, gymnasium, or sports center or at
a swimming pool; (2) the equivalent of a
changing room as a place where individual participants
and team members can discuss tactics
or fellow players, be addressed by their captain,
manager, or coach, and the like
loft ( general ) a stroke or hit that sends a ball up
high; ( golf ) the degree of angle at which a clubhead
is set
lofter ( golf ) a golf club, especially an 8-iron, used
for a loft
log (surfing) a large, cumbersome surfboard
lollipop (association football ) colloquial term for
a stepover; (auto racing) colloquial term for
the sign on a stick used to give instructions
to a driver during a pit stop; (bowls) colloquial
term for one of the small colored lollipopshaped
pieces of plastic held up by the marker
to indicate the number of shots gained in an
end
lolly (cricket) colloquial term for an easy catch
[shortening of lollipop, with a suggestion of
dolly]
London Marathon (athletics) an annual marathon
run since 1981 over a course in London, England,
to raise money for charity
London to Brighton Walk (athletics) an annual
53-mile (85km) race walking event between
89 liner • London
London and Brighton, England, first held in 1919
but discontinued in 2003
long ball ( general ) a ball hit, kicked, or thrown a
long way
long bomb (American football ) a play in which a
quarterback throws a long ball to a receiver positioned
near the end zone to score a touchdown
long corner (field hockey) a free hit taken from the
corner of the goal line
long-distance race ( general ) a race over a long distance,
as in long-distance running
long-distance runner (athletics) a runner in a longdistance
race
long-distance running (athletics) a blanket term
for the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters foot
races
long field (cricket) a fielding position near the
boundary on the bowler’s side, or more
specifically long off or long on
long game ( golf ) the various kinds of play needed
to reach the green
long hop (cricket) a ball bowled so that it makes a
long flight after pitching or bouncing
long iron ( golf ) an iron used to play long shots
long jump (athletics) a field event in which an athlete
sprints down a runway then leaps as far as
possible off the board to land in the pit
long leg (cricket) a fielding position on the boundary
behind the batsman on the leg side
long odds (horse racing) odds in a bet that are unfavorable
in terms of risk but favorable in terms
of potential gain
long off (cricket) a fielding position on the boundary
behind the bowler on the off side
long on (cricket) a fielding position on the boundary
behind the bowler on the leg side
long reliever (baseball ) a relief pitcher used to
pitch several innings if the starting pitcher has
to be removed from the game
Long Room (cricket) a large room in the pavilion
at Lord’s which every player must pass through
before going out to the field of play
long throw (association football ) a throw-in that
sends the ball into or near the goal area of the
opposing team, thus giving an opportunity for
a teammate to score
long-track racing (motorcycle racing) a form of
speedway over 1,000-meter tracks
Long Western (archery) a round of 48 arrows for
men and women respectively at 80 and 60yds
(73m and 55m)
longboard (surfing) an extra long surfboard, such
as a Malibu
Longchamp (horse racing) a noted racecourse near
Paris, France
longeur (equestrianism) in vaulting, the person
who leads round the horse while the rider performs
gymnastic maneuvers [French longeur,
“person who walks alongside”]
longstop (cricket) a now rarely used fielding position
directly behind the wicket to stop balls
missed by the wicketkeeper
Lonsdale Belt (boxing) the trophy in the form of
a belt awarded for winning the same title three
times in succession [presented in 1909 by Lord
Lonsdale (1857–1944), president of the National
Sporting Club]
look for runs (cricket) to take every opportunity,
as a batsman, to score a run
look-in (American football ) a quick pass made to
a receiver running diagonally across the center of
the field
loom (rowing) the long section of the oar between
the handle and the blade
Loons (association football ) nickname of the Scottish
club Forfar Athletic [Scots loon, “boy,” “lad”]
loop (ice skating) shortening of loop jump; (table
tennis) a shot that places heavy topspin on the
ball
loop jump (ice skating) a jump in which the skater
takes off from the back outside edge, makes a full
turn in the air, then lands on the same edge
loose (rugby union) (of ) forward play that does not
involve scrums or lineouts
loose ball (association football ) a ball not in the
possession of either team
loose box (horse racing) a part of a stable where
horses are kept untied [“loose” because they can
move about]
loose forward (rugby league) the forward who
binds at the back of the scrum behind the two
second-row forwards; (rugby union) (1) either
of the two wing forwards; (2) the forward who
binds at the back of the scrum
loose head (rugby league, rugby union) the forward
in the front row of the scrum closest to the
scrum half as he puts the ball in
loose-head prop (rugby league, rugby union) the
prop forward on the left of the front row in the
scrum
loose scrum (rugby league, rugby union) a scrum
formed by the players around the ball during
play, as distinct from one ordered by the referee
loosen up ( general ) to exercise gently in preparation
for a full effort, as in athletics
loosener (cricket) an indifferent ball bowled by the
bowler before he is fully warmed up
Lord’s (cricket) the home ground of Middlesex
county cricket club, London, that is the headquarters
of the Marylebone Cricket Club and
a regular venue for test matches [founded in
Marylebone in 1787 by Thomas Lord (1755–
1832) but in 1814 moved to St. John’s Wood, to
the northwest]
long • Lord’s 90
loser (billiards, snooker) colloquial term for a losing
hazard
losing hazard (billiards, snooker) a stroke in which
a player’s own ball goes into a pocket after contact
with another ball
lost ball (cricket) a situation in which the ball cannot
be found or recovered, as a result of which
it is declared dead
lot (horse racing) a batch of horses grouped for daily
exercise, as in a gallop
love (tennis) a zero score [probably from love in the
sense “nothing,” as in “labor of love”]
love-all (tennis) a score of no points on either side
love-fifteen (tennis) a score of no points to the
server and one point to the opponent
love-five (tennis) colloquial term for a score of
love-fifteen
love-forty (tennis) a score of no points to the
server and three points to the opponent
love game (tennis) a game in which a player fails to
score a point
love set (tennis) a set in which a player fails to score
a point
love-thirty (tennis) a score of no points to the
server and two points to the opponent
low bar ( g ymnastics) the lower of the two asymmetric
bars
low house (shooting) the lower trap in skeet
low post (basketball) the part of the court just outside
the foul lane and under the basket
low side ( golf ) an underestimate of the borrow
required when making a putt
lowball (baseball ) a ball pitched in such a way that
it passes over the plate below the level of the
batter
Ludlow (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Bromfield, near Ludlow, Shropshire, England
luff (sailing) to turn a boat toward the wind
lug (sailing) to carry too much sail
Lugano Trophy (athletics) the trophy awarded to
the winner of the world championship in race
walking [first won in 1961 in Lugano, Switzerland]
luge (sport) a race on the specially designed light toboggan
so named [Swiss French luge]
lugworm (angling) a sluggish worm found in the
sand on the seashore, used for bait
lunch (cricket) the first meal break of the day during
a match, regarded as a time point for the
number of runs scored
lunge ( fencing) a sudden attack with the sword,
made with the back leg straightened and the
body and front leg thrust forward; ( g ymnastics)
a sudden movement forward or sideways, made
with one leg bent at the knee and the other
stretched out behind
Lupi (association football ) nickname of the Italian
club AS Roma [Italian lupi, “wolves,” from the
legend that Rome was founded by Romulus and
Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf ]
lure (angling) a type of brightly-colored artificial
fly; (greyhound racing) the object resembling a
hare that is chased by the dogs in a race as it is
electrically driven around the inside of the track
lutz (ice skating) a jump from the back outside
edge of one skate to the same edge of the other
skate, with a complete rotation while in the air
[said to have been invented by the Swiss skater
Gustave Lussi (1898–1993)]
Luzhniki ( general ) a sports complex in Moscow,
Russia, that was one of the main arenas for the
1980 Olympic Games
Lynx (rugby league) short name of the English club
Chorley Lynx
No comments:
Post a Comment