oakfly (angling) an artificial fly imitating the longlegged
fly Rhagio scolopacea
Oaks (horse racing) an annual race for three-yearold
fillies run at Epsom since 1779 [named for
the estate of Lord Derby at Epsom]
oar (rowing) (1) the long pole, flattened at one end
into a blade, used singly or in pairs for propulsion
in water; (2) shortening of oarsman
oarsman (rowing) a rower
oarsmanship (rowing) the art of rowing
obi (judo) a belt worn by a judoka [Japanese obi,
“belt”]
object ball (snooker) the ball that the player intends
to strike with the cue ball
objection ( general ) a statement made in protest to
a situation or action, especially as a transgression
of the rules or laws of play or behavior
O’Brien shift (athletics) a special gliding or “stepback”
technique in the shot put [introduced by
the U.S. shot putter Parry O’Brien (1932–2007)]
obstacle (equestrianism) any fence, gate, or water
jump that must be cleared in showjumping or
a three-day event
obstructing the field (cricket) the offence by a
batsman of deliberately hindering a fielder or
interfering with the ball in order to avoid being
given out
obstruction (association football ) a foul committed
by a player who, when not in possession the
ball, uses his body to hinder his opponent; (field
hockey) a penalty given when a player turns in
front of the opposition or uses his stick to bar
an opponent’s passage; (netball ) an infringement
by which an opposing player blocks or hinders
a pass or shot, as a result of which the obstructed
team is awarded a penalty pass or penalty shot
ocean race (sailing) another term for an offshore
race
101 nose guard • ocean
oche (darts) the line behind which a player must
stand when throwing darts [origin uncertain,
but perhaps related to notch]
octave ( fencing) the eighth of eight basic parrying
positions, used to protect the lower outside of
the body [French octave, “eighth”]
octopush (sport) a kind of underwater field hockey
played in a swimming pool, in which a squid is
used in place of a ball and pushers in place of
sticks [devised in southern England in 1954 by
subaqua divers and named as blend of octopus,
both for the creature and punningly for the eight
(now ten) team members, and push]
odd ( golf ) a stroke that makes a player’s total for
a hole one more than that of his opponent
odds (horse racing) the chances that a horse has of
winning a race, as determined by the amount
staked on it in a bet
odds-on (horse racing) odds in a bet that are better
than those in evens, so that the winnings are
less than double the amount staked
ODI (cricket) abbreviation of one-day international
off (auto racing) colloquial term for an accident in
which the car leaves the track; (cricket) shortening
of off side; (horse racing) the start of a race
off base (baseball ) in between one base and the
next, and so liable to be tagged
off break (cricket) a ball bowled by a slow bowler
that breaks from the off side toward the leg side
on pitching
off course (horse racing) away from the racecourse
off cutter (cricket) a cutter from a fast bowler that
moves from the off side to the leg side on pitching
off drive (cricket) a drive to the off side
off piste (skiing) away from a prepared ski run
off-roading (auto racing) the sport or recreation of
driving over rough terrain in specially designed
vehicles, often as a race
off side (cricket) the half of the field on the opposite
side to that on which the batsman stands
when waiting to receive the ball from the bowler
off spin (cricket) the spin imparted to a ball to turn
it into an off break
off spinner (cricket) a bowler who bowls off
breaks
off stump (cricket) the stump furthest from the
batsman
off the ball (association football ) (of ) a dispute or
fight between players away from the point where
the ball is being played
off the bridle (horse racing) not running freely and
having to be urged on by the jockey
off the pace (horse racing) lagging behind other
runners in a race
off theory (cricket) a theory that favors concentrating
the fielders on the off side and bowling the
ball at the off stump
off track (auto racing) away from the racetrack
off-track betting (horse racing) a system for placing
bets away from the racecourse
offense (American football ) the team that has possession
of the ball at the start of a play; ( general)
a breach of the rules
office manager (auto racing) colloquial term for
the codriver
offload (rugby league) a very short pass made to a
teammate running past; (rugby union) a very
short pass made by a player taking a tackle to a
teammate running past
offshore race (sailing) a race in which competing
boats sail at some distance from the shore, often
from one port to another
offside (American football ) a situation in which a
player is in front of the line of scrimmage at the
time of the snap; (association football ) a situation
in which a player is nearer the goal line
than one or both of the last two defenders when
the ball is played toward him by a member of
his own team; (ice hockey) a situation in which a
player precedes the puck over the blue line of the
opposition
offside trap (association football ) a strategy in
which defensive players move together toward
the half way line in order to catch attacking
players offside when a forward pass is being
made
Oilers (ice hockey) short name of the Edmonton
Oilers team
Old Firm (association football ) joint nickname for
the Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers, long traditional
rivals
Old Trafford (cricket) the home ground of Lancashire
county cricket club, Manchester
olive (angling) an artificial fly imitating a mayfly
with an olive-colored body, especially Ephemerella
ignita
ollie (skateboarding) an aerial maneuver in which
the rider presses his back foot down on the
kick-tail then keeps his feet close to the board
in flight before guiding the board back to the
ground with his front foot [said to be invented
by U.S. skateboarder Alan “Ollie” Gelfand
(1963–)]
Olympia (Olympics) the plain in southern Greece
where the ancient Olympic Games were held
[not to be confused with Mt. Olympus, the
home of the gods in northeastern Greece]
Olympiad ( general ) alternate term for Olympics
in its nonathletic application; (Olympics) (1)
a period of four years between the ancient
Olympic Games; (2) a celebration of either the
ancient or the modern Olympic Games
oche • Olympiad 102
Olympian (Olympics) a competitor in the Olympic
Games
Olympian Games (Olympics) an alternate term for
the ancient Olympic Games
Olympic city (Olympics) a city where the Olympic
Games have been or will be held, among them
Athens, Beijing, London, Los Angeles, Moscow,
Munich, Paris, Rome, and Sydney
Olympic flame (Olympics) the flame lit by the
Olympic torch that burns throughout the modern
Olympic Games
Olympic Games (Olympics) (1) the festival in
honor of Zeus held first held in ancient Greece
in 776 B.C. and comprising athletic, literary,
and musical competitions; (2) the modern international
athletic contests inspired by this, first
held in Athens, Greece, in 1896 and subsequently
in different Olympic cities, sometimes
more than once
Olympic motto (Olympics) the Latin slogan that
has formed an integral part of the Olympic
Games since 1920: “Citius, altius, fortius”
(“Swifter, higher, stronger”)
Olympic oath (Olympics) the pledge instituted in
1920 that is traditionally pronounced by a representative
of the host country at the opening
ceremony of the Olympic Games: “In the name
of all competitors, I promise that we shall take
part in these Olympic Games, respecting and
abiding by the rules which govern them, in the
true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of
sport and the honor of our teams”
Olympic sport (Olympics) a sport officially recognized
by the International Olympics Committee
Olympic torch (Olympics) the lighted torch
brought from Olympia since 1936 to kindle the
Olympic flame
Olympic village (Olympics) a specially designed
residential and commercial center for participants
and officials in the modern Olympic
Games
Olympics ( general ) (1) a commonly used designation
of the modern Olympic Games; (2) an international
contest in a nonathletic sport or pastime,
as chess or bridge
Olympism (Olympics) the spirit and ideals of the
modern Olympic Games
Olyroos (association football ) nickname of the Australian
national under-23 men’s team, who represent
Australia at the Olympics [blend of
Olympic and kangaroos, the national animal]
omnium (cycling) a series of contests in which competitors
are awarded points on the basis of their
performance in each [Latin omnium, “of all”]
on (baseball ) shortening of on base; (cricket) another
term for leg
on base (baseball ) having safely reached a base
on board (equestrianism, horse racing) mounted on
a horse
on deck (baseball ) scheduled to bat after the next
batter
on-deck circle (baseball ) a circular area in foul
territory where the next player to bat waits
on-drive (cricket) a drive to the leg side
on guard! ( fencing) the equivalent of en garde!
on points (boxing) reckoned by the number of
points scored rather than by a knockout
on side (cricket) another term for the leg side
on strike (cricket) facing the bowling
on the clock ( golf ) subject to time constraints as
a result of playing too slowly
on the hill (pool) with one more game to win to
gain victory
on the line (horse racing) at the finishing post
on the mark (horse racing) likely to win a bet
on the nose (horse racing) a bet to win only, not to
come second or third
on the rails (horse racing) on the track of a racecourse
nearest the rails
on the rivet (cycling) riding as fast as possible [from
the rivet formerly at the front of a leather saddle]
on the rope (mountaineering) roped together
on the ropes (boxing) forced against the ropes by
an opponent’s attack, and thus in danger of defeat
on the up (cricket) (of ) a stroke played as the ball
rises from a bounce
on your marks! (athletics) the command given by
the starter of a foot race to prepare the runners
for the starting signal [the mark being the
starting line]
one-base (baseball ) (of ) a hit that enables the batter
to reach first base
one-day cricket (cricket) a match lasting only one
day, with a limited number of overs
one-day international (cricket) an international
one-dayer
one-dayer (cricket) colloquial term for one-day
cricket
one-design (sailing) a class of boat with identical
specifications
one down ( general ) one point behind in a game
one-horse race ( general ) a race with a single likely
winner
100-meter hurdles (athletics) a race over high hurdles
for women over the stated distance
100 meters (athletics) a sprint of the stated distance
110-meter hurdles (athletics) a race over high hurdles
for men over the stated distance
one-old-cat (baseball ) a form of the sport in which
a batter runs to one base and home again, remaining
as batter until put out
103 Olympian • one-old-cat
one short (cricket) a run in which the batsman, in
turning to make another run, touches the
ground with the bat short of the popping crease
One Thousand Guineas (horse racing) an annual
race for three-year-old fillies run over the Rowley
Mile at Newmarket since 1814 [original value
of prize, a guinea being 21 shillings]
one-timer (ice hockey) a move in which the puck
is hit toward the goal at the moment it is received
in a pass
one-touch (association football ) (of ) a fast-moving
play in which each player controls or passes
the ball with a single touch of the foot
one-two (association football ) a move in which a
player makes a pass to a teammate, runs past an
opponent, then receives the ball back; (boxing)
a jab with the leading hand followed by a cross
with the other hand; (horse racing) a double victory
for a trainer whose horses finished first and
second in a race
one-two-three (horse racing) a triple victory for a
trainer whose horses were the first three to finish
in a race
one up (general) ahead of an opponent by one point
onion bag (association football ) colloquial term for
the net behind the goal
onside (association football ) not offside
onside kick (American football ) a kickoff that travels
only a short distance forward, enabling the
kicking team to regain possession of the ball
Opals (basketball) nickname of the Australian national
women’s team [the opal is the national
gemstone]
open ( general ) (1) a sporting contest or tournament
that anyone can enter; (2) (of ) a game or
play that is spread out over the field; (3) (of ) a
player who is unmarked by a member of the opposing
team
Open ( golf ) (1) shortening of Open Championship;
(2) shortening of U.S. Open; (tennis)
shortening of U.S. Open
open! (wrestling) the command of the referee to a
wrestler to alter his position and use more open
tactics
open championship ( general ) a championship
that is open to both professional and amateur
entrants
Open Championship ( golf ) (1) the world’s leading
championship in the sport, first held in
Scotland in 1860 [formally the British Open];
(2) a similar championship elsewhere, as the U.S.
Open, Open de España, Open de France, or European
Open
open date ( general ) a future available date for
which no fixture has yet been arranged
open goal (association football ) (1) an undefended
goal; (2) a goal scored into it
open one’s account (cricket) (1) as a batsman, to
begin scoring runs; (2) as a bowler, to take one’s
first wicket; (horse racing) as a horse or jockey,
to achieve a first win in a race
open one’s shoulders (cricket) to hit a drive [from
the stance assumed by the batsman]
open side (rugby league) the side of the pitch with
more space between the scrum or play-the-ball
and the touchline than the blind side; (rugby
union) the side of the pitch with more space between
the scrum, ruck, or maul and the touchline
than the blind side
open-side flanker (rugby union) the flanker binding
on the open side
open table (pool) a situation in eight-ball pool in
which a player can hit either the solid ball or
the stripe ball
open-top bus ( general ) a double-decker bus with
a roofless top deck on which a victorious team
traditionally ride through their home town and
parade their trophy as an equivalent of a lap of
honor
open-water (swimming) (of ) an event held in open
water rather than in a swimming pool
opener (cricket) one of the two batsmen who start
the side’s innings; (horse racing) the first race of
the day in a meeting
opening ( general ) (1) an initial move in a game;
(2) an enterprising move during a game, that
could lead to the advantage of one’s team or oneself
opening batsman (cricket) one of the two openers
opening bowler (cricket) the bowler who bowls
first
opposition ( general ) the team against which a
given team is playing
Opposition (basketball) the team (who never wins)
against which the Harlem Globetrotters play
their exhibition games
option play (American football ) a play in which
an offensive player runs with the ball and, depending
on the defensive formation, may either
continue running or make a pass
Orange Bowl (American football ) the intersectional
college football game played annually since
1935 at the Orange Bowl stadium, Miami,
Florida
order (cricket) shortening of batting order
order off (association football ) alternate term for
send off
Orient (association football ) short name of the English
club Leyton Orient
orienteering (sport) a form of cross-country running
in which individuals or teams use a map
and compass to reach their destination via a
number of specified control points [Swedish
orientering, literally “orientating”]
one • orienteering 104
Orioles (baseball ) short name of the Baltimore
Orioles team
O’s (association football ) short name of the English
club Leyton Orient
osaekomi waza (judo) the technique of holding
down one’s opponent [Japanese osae, “to press on,”
komi, “to be packed up,” and waza, “technique”]
otter (angling) shortening of otterboard
otterboard (angling) a board manipulated to carry
the end of a fishing line, or several hooked and
baited lines, when fishing in a lake [from otter,
the aquatic animal]
O2 ( general ) an entertainment and exhibition center
with a concert and sports arena in London,
England, originally opened in 1999 as the Millennium
Dome [name of sponsors]
out ( general ) (1) dismissed from a game, as a batsman
who has been bowled in cricket; (2) the
dismissal itself, as in baseball, in which an inning
ends when three outs are recorded
out cricket (cricket) bowling and fielding, as distinct
from batting
out for the count (boxing) failing to beat the count
of the referee when down on the canvas
out lap (auto racing) (1) the lap covered by a driver
after a pit stop; (2) in qualifying, the lap covered
after leaving the pits and before doing the
measured lap
out of (horse racing) born to a named dam [often
coupled with by to name the sire]
out of bounds ( golf ) an area of the course designated
as not to be played on, obliging a player
whose ball enters it to play again and incur a
penalty
out of the screws ( golf ) (of ) a perfect drive [from
the screws formerly surrounding the middle of
the clubface of a wooden driver, an area now
known as the sweet spot]
outbrake (auto racing) to brake later than another
driver at a corner and so overtake him
outclassed (boxing) judged by the referee to be
taking undue punishment from an opponent,
in consequence of which the bout is stopped
outdoor bowls (bowls) the sport played on a green,
as distinct from indoor bowls
outer (archery, shooting) the outermost ring of the
target; (darts) the green circle around the bull on
a dartboard
outfield (baseball ) the part of the playing area beyond
the baselines; (cricket) the outer part of
the field, near the boundary
outfield player (association football ) any player
other than the goalkeeper
outfielder (baseball, cricket) a fielder in the
outfield
outhalf (rugby league) another term for a standoff
half
outing ( general ) an appearance in a match or race;
(horse racing) another term for a race
outjump the hill (skiing) in ski jumping, to jump
beyond the k point
outlet receiver (American football ) a receiver near
the line of scrimmage who can catch a pass if
players further downfield are covered
outrigger (canoeing) a projecting device on a float,
fixed to the side of a canoe to give extra stability;
(rowing) a projecting rowlock that gives
extra stability to the oar; (sailing) a projecting
spar used to extend the sails
outrun (skiing) in a ski jump, the flat area at the
bottom of the hill where skiers slow down and
stop
outshot (darts) another term for a checkout
outside ( general ) a player nearer the edge of the
field than a center; (surfing) the expanse of sea
outside the breakers
outside center (rugby union) the center who plays
between the inside center and the winger
outside edge (cricket) a deflection of the ball from
the outer edge of the bat; (ice skating) the outer
of the two edges of the blade of a skate
outside half (rugby union) another term for the fly
half
outside lane (athletics, cycling) the outermost lane
of the track, which is longest because of the
curve
outside left (association football, field hockey) an attacking
position on the left side away from the
center of the field
outside right (association football, field hockey) an
attacking position on the right side away from the
center of the field
outsider (horse racing) a horse not regarded as a favorite
to win a race and therefore at long odds
as a bet
outswinger (association football ) a pass that swerves
away from the goal or from the center of the
pitch; (cricket) a ball bowled so as to swing from
leg to off
outwick (curling) to strike the outside of another
stone and so send it within a circle [from
wick]
oval (Australian Rules) a ground where the game is
played; (auto racing) in Indy car and NASCAR
racing, an oval-shaped circuit with gentle bends
that can be taken at high speed
Oval (cricket) the home ground of Surrey county
cricket club, London, where test matches are
played [so named from the oval road built
around the original area of land, which became
a sports ground in 1845]
oval-ball game (sport) colloquial name for rugby
union, as distinct from the round-ball game
over (cricket) a series of six balls bowled by the
105 Orioles • over
bowler, after which a change is made from one
end of the wicket to the other
over rate (cricket) the rate at which overs are
bowled
over the sticks (horse racing) colloquial term for a
steeplechase
over the top (association football ) (of ) a tackle in
which a player goes over the ball
over the wicket (cricket) (of ) a ball bowled with the
arm of the bowler near the wicket, as against
round the wicket
overarm (cricket) (of ) a delivery by the bowler
made with the hand raised above the shoulder;
(swimming) (of ) a stroke in which one or both
arms are lifted out of the water and brought forward
and down to their original position; (tennis)
(of ) a serve made with the hand raised
above the shoulder
overbump (rowing) a bump in a bumping race in
which the bumping boat goes up more than one
place because the boat it bumps has also just
bumped
overclub ( golf ) to use a club with too little loft,
thus sending the ball too far
overhand (swimming) an overarm stroke
overhead (tennis) a shot played with the racket
above the head
overhead kick (association football ) another term
for a bicycle kick
overhit ( golf ) a putt that sends the ball further
than intended
overlap (association football ) a situation in which a
player moves up to overtake the player in possession,
usually to take a pass; (rugby league,
rugby union) a situation in which the team in
possession has more players in an attack than
can be marked by the defenders; (sailing) a situation
in a race in which the stern of one boat
is ahead of the bow of another, obliging the
overtaking boat, if not yet clear, to give way
overpitch (cricket) to bowl a ball that pitches close
enough to the batsman to be easily hit by him
overplay ( golf ) to hit the ball beyond the green
overrreach (horse racing) an injury caused when a
horse’s hindfoot strikes against the corresponding
forefoot, typically on landing after jumping
a fence
overrule (tennis) a call by the umpire to overturn
the call of a line judge
overswing ( golf ) to swing the club too hard and
so follow through more than is necessary
overthrow (baseball ) a throw from a fielder that
sends the ball beyond a baseman; (cricket) a return
throw of the ball by a fielder to the wicket
that not only misses it but is missed by the
bowler or wicketkeeper, enabling the batsmen
to run again and score another run
overtime (American football ) an extra period of 15
minutes played at the end of a tied game
Owls (association football ) nickname of the English
club Sheffield Wednesday [from the district of
Owlerton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where the
club is based]
own goal (association football ) a goal scored inadvertently
against one’s own team
owner (horse racing) the person who owns a
particular racehorse and who, in consultation
with the trainer, decides which races it should
run
oxer (equestrianism) in showjumping, a jump consisting
of a brush fence with a guardrail on one
or both sides [short form of ox fence]
ozeki (sumo) a champion wrestler [Japanese]
fly Rhagio scolopacea
Oaks (horse racing) an annual race for three-yearold
fillies run at Epsom since 1779 [named for
the estate of Lord Derby at Epsom]
oar (rowing) (1) the long pole, flattened at one end
into a blade, used singly or in pairs for propulsion
in water; (2) shortening of oarsman
oarsman (rowing) a rower
oarsmanship (rowing) the art of rowing
obi (judo) a belt worn by a judoka [Japanese obi,
“belt”]
object ball (snooker) the ball that the player intends
to strike with the cue ball
objection ( general ) a statement made in protest to
a situation or action, especially as a transgression
of the rules or laws of play or behavior
O’Brien shift (athletics) a special gliding or “stepback”
technique in the shot put [introduced by
the U.S. shot putter Parry O’Brien (1932–2007)]
obstacle (equestrianism) any fence, gate, or water
jump that must be cleared in showjumping or
a three-day event
obstructing the field (cricket) the offence by a
batsman of deliberately hindering a fielder or
interfering with the ball in order to avoid being
given out
obstruction (association football ) a foul committed
by a player who, when not in possession the
ball, uses his body to hinder his opponent; (field
hockey) a penalty given when a player turns in
front of the opposition or uses his stick to bar
an opponent’s passage; (netball ) an infringement
by which an opposing player blocks or hinders
a pass or shot, as a result of which the obstructed
team is awarded a penalty pass or penalty shot
ocean race (sailing) another term for an offshore
race
101 nose guard • ocean
oche (darts) the line behind which a player must
stand when throwing darts [origin uncertain,
but perhaps related to notch]
octave ( fencing) the eighth of eight basic parrying
positions, used to protect the lower outside of
the body [French octave, “eighth”]
octopush (sport) a kind of underwater field hockey
played in a swimming pool, in which a squid is
used in place of a ball and pushers in place of
sticks [devised in southern England in 1954 by
subaqua divers and named as blend of octopus,
both for the creature and punningly for the eight
(now ten) team members, and push]
odd ( golf ) a stroke that makes a player’s total for
a hole one more than that of his opponent
odds (horse racing) the chances that a horse has of
winning a race, as determined by the amount
staked on it in a bet
odds-on (horse racing) odds in a bet that are better
than those in evens, so that the winnings are
less than double the amount staked
ODI (cricket) abbreviation of one-day international
off (auto racing) colloquial term for an accident in
which the car leaves the track; (cricket) shortening
of off side; (horse racing) the start of a race
off base (baseball ) in between one base and the
next, and so liable to be tagged
off break (cricket) a ball bowled by a slow bowler
that breaks from the off side toward the leg side
on pitching
off course (horse racing) away from the racecourse
off cutter (cricket) a cutter from a fast bowler that
moves from the off side to the leg side on pitching
off drive (cricket) a drive to the off side
off piste (skiing) away from a prepared ski run
off-roading (auto racing) the sport or recreation of
driving over rough terrain in specially designed
vehicles, often as a race
off side (cricket) the half of the field on the opposite
side to that on which the batsman stands
when waiting to receive the ball from the bowler
off spin (cricket) the spin imparted to a ball to turn
it into an off break
off spinner (cricket) a bowler who bowls off
breaks
off stump (cricket) the stump furthest from the
batsman
off the ball (association football ) (of ) a dispute or
fight between players away from the point where
the ball is being played
off the bridle (horse racing) not running freely and
having to be urged on by the jockey
off the pace (horse racing) lagging behind other
runners in a race
off theory (cricket) a theory that favors concentrating
the fielders on the off side and bowling the
ball at the off stump
off track (auto racing) away from the racetrack
off-track betting (horse racing) a system for placing
bets away from the racecourse
offense (American football ) the team that has possession
of the ball at the start of a play; ( general)
a breach of the rules
office manager (auto racing) colloquial term for
the codriver
offload (rugby league) a very short pass made to a
teammate running past; (rugby union) a very
short pass made by a player taking a tackle to a
teammate running past
offshore race (sailing) a race in which competing
boats sail at some distance from the shore, often
from one port to another
offside (American football ) a situation in which a
player is in front of the line of scrimmage at the
time of the snap; (association football ) a situation
in which a player is nearer the goal line
than one or both of the last two defenders when
the ball is played toward him by a member of
his own team; (ice hockey) a situation in which a
player precedes the puck over the blue line of the
opposition
offside trap (association football ) a strategy in
which defensive players move together toward
the half way line in order to catch attacking
players offside when a forward pass is being
made
Oilers (ice hockey) short name of the Edmonton
Oilers team
Old Firm (association football ) joint nickname for
the Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers, long traditional
rivals
Old Trafford (cricket) the home ground of Lancashire
county cricket club, Manchester
olive (angling) an artificial fly imitating a mayfly
with an olive-colored body, especially Ephemerella
ignita
ollie (skateboarding) an aerial maneuver in which
the rider presses his back foot down on the
kick-tail then keeps his feet close to the board
in flight before guiding the board back to the
ground with his front foot [said to be invented
by U.S. skateboarder Alan “Ollie” Gelfand
(1963–)]
Olympia (Olympics) the plain in southern Greece
where the ancient Olympic Games were held
[not to be confused with Mt. Olympus, the
home of the gods in northeastern Greece]
Olympiad ( general ) alternate term for Olympics
in its nonathletic application; (Olympics) (1)
a period of four years between the ancient
Olympic Games; (2) a celebration of either the
ancient or the modern Olympic Games
oche • Olympiad 102
Olympian (Olympics) a competitor in the Olympic
Games
Olympian Games (Olympics) an alternate term for
the ancient Olympic Games
Olympic city (Olympics) a city where the Olympic
Games have been or will be held, among them
Athens, Beijing, London, Los Angeles, Moscow,
Munich, Paris, Rome, and Sydney
Olympic flame (Olympics) the flame lit by the
Olympic torch that burns throughout the modern
Olympic Games
Olympic Games (Olympics) (1) the festival in
honor of Zeus held first held in ancient Greece
in 776 B.C. and comprising athletic, literary,
and musical competitions; (2) the modern international
athletic contests inspired by this, first
held in Athens, Greece, in 1896 and subsequently
in different Olympic cities, sometimes
more than once
Olympic motto (Olympics) the Latin slogan that
has formed an integral part of the Olympic
Games since 1920: “Citius, altius, fortius”
(“Swifter, higher, stronger”)
Olympic oath (Olympics) the pledge instituted in
1920 that is traditionally pronounced by a representative
of the host country at the opening
ceremony of the Olympic Games: “In the name
of all competitors, I promise that we shall take
part in these Olympic Games, respecting and
abiding by the rules which govern them, in the
true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of
sport and the honor of our teams”
Olympic sport (Olympics) a sport officially recognized
by the International Olympics Committee
Olympic torch (Olympics) the lighted torch
brought from Olympia since 1936 to kindle the
Olympic flame
Olympic village (Olympics) a specially designed
residential and commercial center for participants
and officials in the modern Olympic
Games
Olympics ( general ) (1) a commonly used designation
of the modern Olympic Games; (2) an international
contest in a nonathletic sport or pastime,
as chess or bridge
Olympism (Olympics) the spirit and ideals of the
modern Olympic Games
Olyroos (association football ) nickname of the Australian
national under-23 men’s team, who represent
Australia at the Olympics [blend of
Olympic and kangaroos, the national animal]
omnium (cycling) a series of contests in which competitors
are awarded points on the basis of their
performance in each [Latin omnium, “of all”]
on (baseball ) shortening of on base; (cricket) another
term for leg
on base (baseball ) having safely reached a base
on board (equestrianism, horse racing) mounted on
a horse
on deck (baseball ) scheduled to bat after the next
batter
on-deck circle (baseball ) a circular area in foul
territory where the next player to bat waits
on-drive (cricket) a drive to the leg side
on guard! ( fencing) the equivalent of en garde!
on points (boxing) reckoned by the number of
points scored rather than by a knockout
on side (cricket) another term for the leg side
on strike (cricket) facing the bowling
on the clock ( golf ) subject to time constraints as
a result of playing too slowly
on the hill (pool) with one more game to win to
gain victory
on the line (horse racing) at the finishing post
on the mark (horse racing) likely to win a bet
on the nose (horse racing) a bet to win only, not to
come second or third
on the rails (horse racing) on the track of a racecourse
nearest the rails
on the rivet (cycling) riding as fast as possible [from
the rivet formerly at the front of a leather saddle]
on the rope (mountaineering) roped together
on the ropes (boxing) forced against the ropes by
an opponent’s attack, and thus in danger of defeat
on the up (cricket) (of ) a stroke played as the ball
rises from a bounce
on your marks! (athletics) the command given by
the starter of a foot race to prepare the runners
for the starting signal [the mark being the
starting line]
one-base (baseball ) (of ) a hit that enables the batter
to reach first base
one-day cricket (cricket) a match lasting only one
day, with a limited number of overs
one-day international (cricket) an international
one-dayer
one-dayer (cricket) colloquial term for one-day
cricket
one-design (sailing) a class of boat with identical
specifications
one down ( general ) one point behind in a game
one-horse race ( general ) a race with a single likely
winner
100-meter hurdles (athletics) a race over high hurdles
for women over the stated distance
100 meters (athletics) a sprint of the stated distance
110-meter hurdles (athletics) a race over high hurdles
for men over the stated distance
one-old-cat (baseball ) a form of the sport in which
a batter runs to one base and home again, remaining
as batter until put out
103 Olympian • one-old-cat
one short (cricket) a run in which the batsman, in
turning to make another run, touches the
ground with the bat short of the popping crease
One Thousand Guineas (horse racing) an annual
race for three-year-old fillies run over the Rowley
Mile at Newmarket since 1814 [original value
of prize, a guinea being 21 shillings]
one-timer (ice hockey) a move in which the puck
is hit toward the goal at the moment it is received
in a pass
one-touch (association football ) (of ) a fast-moving
play in which each player controls or passes
the ball with a single touch of the foot
one-two (association football ) a move in which a
player makes a pass to a teammate, runs past an
opponent, then receives the ball back; (boxing)
a jab with the leading hand followed by a cross
with the other hand; (horse racing) a double victory
for a trainer whose horses finished first and
second in a race
one-two-three (horse racing) a triple victory for a
trainer whose horses were the first three to finish
in a race
one up (general) ahead of an opponent by one point
onion bag (association football ) colloquial term for
the net behind the goal
onside (association football ) not offside
onside kick (American football ) a kickoff that travels
only a short distance forward, enabling the
kicking team to regain possession of the ball
Opals (basketball) nickname of the Australian national
women’s team [the opal is the national
gemstone]
open ( general ) (1) a sporting contest or tournament
that anyone can enter; (2) (of ) a game or
play that is spread out over the field; (3) (of ) a
player who is unmarked by a member of the opposing
team
Open ( golf ) (1) shortening of Open Championship;
(2) shortening of U.S. Open; (tennis)
shortening of U.S. Open
open! (wrestling) the command of the referee to a
wrestler to alter his position and use more open
tactics
open championship ( general ) a championship
that is open to both professional and amateur
entrants
Open Championship ( golf ) (1) the world’s leading
championship in the sport, first held in
Scotland in 1860 [formally the British Open];
(2) a similar championship elsewhere, as the U.S.
Open, Open de España, Open de France, or European
Open
open date ( general ) a future available date for
which no fixture has yet been arranged
open goal (association football ) (1) an undefended
goal; (2) a goal scored into it
open one’s account (cricket) (1) as a batsman, to
begin scoring runs; (2) as a bowler, to take one’s
first wicket; (horse racing) as a horse or jockey,
to achieve a first win in a race
open one’s shoulders (cricket) to hit a drive [from
the stance assumed by the batsman]
open side (rugby league) the side of the pitch with
more space between the scrum or play-the-ball
and the touchline than the blind side; (rugby
union) the side of the pitch with more space between
the scrum, ruck, or maul and the touchline
than the blind side
open-side flanker (rugby union) the flanker binding
on the open side
open table (pool) a situation in eight-ball pool in
which a player can hit either the solid ball or
the stripe ball
open-top bus ( general ) a double-decker bus with
a roofless top deck on which a victorious team
traditionally ride through their home town and
parade their trophy as an equivalent of a lap of
honor
open-water (swimming) (of ) an event held in open
water rather than in a swimming pool
opener (cricket) one of the two batsmen who start
the side’s innings; (horse racing) the first race of
the day in a meeting
opening ( general ) (1) an initial move in a game;
(2) an enterprising move during a game, that
could lead to the advantage of one’s team or oneself
opening batsman (cricket) one of the two openers
opening bowler (cricket) the bowler who bowls
first
opposition ( general ) the team against which a
given team is playing
Opposition (basketball) the team (who never wins)
against which the Harlem Globetrotters play
their exhibition games
option play (American football ) a play in which
an offensive player runs with the ball and, depending
on the defensive formation, may either
continue running or make a pass
Orange Bowl (American football ) the intersectional
college football game played annually since
1935 at the Orange Bowl stadium, Miami,
Florida
order (cricket) shortening of batting order
order off (association football ) alternate term for
send off
Orient (association football ) short name of the English
club Leyton Orient
orienteering (sport) a form of cross-country running
in which individuals or teams use a map
and compass to reach their destination via a
number of specified control points [Swedish
orientering, literally “orientating”]
one • orienteering 104
Orioles (baseball ) short name of the Baltimore
Orioles team
O’s (association football ) short name of the English
club Leyton Orient
osaekomi waza (judo) the technique of holding
down one’s opponent [Japanese osae, “to press on,”
komi, “to be packed up,” and waza, “technique”]
otter (angling) shortening of otterboard
otterboard (angling) a board manipulated to carry
the end of a fishing line, or several hooked and
baited lines, when fishing in a lake [from otter,
the aquatic animal]
O2 ( general ) an entertainment and exhibition center
with a concert and sports arena in London,
England, originally opened in 1999 as the Millennium
Dome [name of sponsors]
out ( general ) (1) dismissed from a game, as a batsman
who has been bowled in cricket; (2) the
dismissal itself, as in baseball, in which an inning
ends when three outs are recorded
out cricket (cricket) bowling and fielding, as distinct
from batting
out for the count (boxing) failing to beat the count
of the referee when down on the canvas
out lap (auto racing) (1) the lap covered by a driver
after a pit stop; (2) in qualifying, the lap covered
after leaving the pits and before doing the
measured lap
out of (horse racing) born to a named dam [often
coupled with by to name the sire]
out of bounds ( golf ) an area of the course designated
as not to be played on, obliging a player
whose ball enters it to play again and incur a
penalty
out of the screws ( golf ) (of ) a perfect drive [from
the screws formerly surrounding the middle of
the clubface of a wooden driver, an area now
known as the sweet spot]
outbrake (auto racing) to brake later than another
driver at a corner and so overtake him
outclassed (boxing) judged by the referee to be
taking undue punishment from an opponent,
in consequence of which the bout is stopped
outdoor bowls (bowls) the sport played on a green,
as distinct from indoor bowls
outer (archery, shooting) the outermost ring of the
target; (darts) the green circle around the bull on
a dartboard
outfield (baseball ) the part of the playing area beyond
the baselines; (cricket) the outer part of
the field, near the boundary
outfield player (association football ) any player
other than the goalkeeper
outfielder (baseball, cricket) a fielder in the
outfield
outhalf (rugby league) another term for a standoff
half
outing ( general ) an appearance in a match or race;
(horse racing) another term for a race
outjump the hill (skiing) in ski jumping, to jump
beyond the k point
outlet receiver (American football ) a receiver near
the line of scrimmage who can catch a pass if
players further downfield are covered
outrigger (canoeing) a projecting device on a float,
fixed to the side of a canoe to give extra stability;
(rowing) a projecting rowlock that gives
extra stability to the oar; (sailing) a projecting
spar used to extend the sails
outrun (skiing) in a ski jump, the flat area at the
bottom of the hill where skiers slow down and
stop
outshot (darts) another term for a checkout
outside ( general ) a player nearer the edge of the
field than a center; (surfing) the expanse of sea
outside the breakers
outside center (rugby union) the center who plays
between the inside center and the winger
outside edge (cricket) a deflection of the ball from
the outer edge of the bat; (ice skating) the outer
of the two edges of the blade of a skate
outside half (rugby union) another term for the fly
half
outside lane (athletics, cycling) the outermost lane
of the track, which is longest because of the
curve
outside left (association football, field hockey) an attacking
position on the left side away from the
center of the field
outside right (association football, field hockey) an
attacking position on the right side away from the
center of the field
outsider (horse racing) a horse not regarded as a favorite
to win a race and therefore at long odds
as a bet
outswinger (association football ) a pass that swerves
away from the goal or from the center of the
pitch; (cricket) a ball bowled so as to swing from
leg to off
outwick (curling) to strike the outside of another
stone and so send it within a circle [from
wick]
oval (Australian Rules) a ground where the game is
played; (auto racing) in Indy car and NASCAR
racing, an oval-shaped circuit with gentle bends
that can be taken at high speed
Oval (cricket) the home ground of Surrey county
cricket club, London, where test matches are
played [so named from the oval road built
around the original area of land, which became
a sports ground in 1845]
oval-ball game (sport) colloquial name for rugby
union, as distinct from the round-ball game
over (cricket) a series of six balls bowled by the
105 Orioles • over
bowler, after which a change is made from one
end of the wicket to the other
over rate (cricket) the rate at which overs are
bowled
over the sticks (horse racing) colloquial term for a
steeplechase
over the top (association football ) (of ) a tackle in
which a player goes over the ball
over the wicket (cricket) (of ) a ball bowled with the
arm of the bowler near the wicket, as against
round the wicket
overarm (cricket) (of ) a delivery by the bowler
made with the hand raised above the shoulder;
(swimming) (of ) a stroke in which one or both
arms are lifted out of the water and brought forward
and down to their original position; (tennis)
(of ) a serve made with the hand raised
above the shoulder
overbump (rowing) a bump in a bumping race in
which the bumping boat goes up more than one
place because the boat it bumps has also just
bumped
overclub ( golf ) to use a club with too little loft,
thus sending the ball too far
overhand (swimming) an overarm stroke
overhead (tennis) a shot played with the racket
above the head
overhead kick (association football ) another term
for a bicycle kick
overhit ( golf ) a putt that sends the ball further
than intended
overlap (association football ) a situation in which a
player moves up to overtake the player in possession,
usually to take a pass; (rugby league,
rugby union) a situation in which the team in
possession has more players in an attack than
can be marked by the defenders; (sailing) a situation
in a race in which the stern of one boat
is ahead of the bow of another, obliging the
overtaking boat, if not yet clear, to give way
overpitch (cricket) to bowl a ball that pitches close
enough to the batsman to be easily hit by him
overplay ( golf ) to hit the ball beyond the green
overrreach (horse racing) an injury caused when a
horse’s hindfoot strikes against the corresponding
forefoot, typically on landing after jumping
a fence
overrule (tennis) a call by the umpire to overturn
the call of a line judge
overswing ( golf ) to swing the club too hard and
so follow through more than is necessary
overthrow (baseball ) a throw from a fielder that
sends the ball beyond a baseman; (cricket) a return
throw of the ball by a fielder to the wicket
that not only misses it but is missed by the
bowler or wicketkeeper, enabling the batsmen
to run again and score another run
overtime (American football ) an extra period of 15
minutes played at the end of a tied game
Owls (association football ) nickname of the English
club Sheffield Wednesday [from the district of
Owlerton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where the
club is based]
own goal (association football ) a goal scored inadvertently
against one’s own team
owner (horse racing) the person who owns a
particular racehorse and who, in consultation
with the trainer, decides which races it should
run
oxer (equestrianism) in showjumping, a jump consisting
of a brush fence with a guardrail on one
or both sides [short form of ox fence]
ozeki (sumo) a champion wrestler [Japanese]
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