sport terms dictionary S class

saber ( fencing) a light sword with a flattened triangular
blade and a blunt point
sabermetrics (baseball ) the measurement and
analysis of statistics for the sport [from SABR,
abbreviation of Society for American Baseball
Research¸ and -metrics, as in biometrics]
sabre ( fencing) another spelling of saber
Sabres (ice hockey) short name of the Buffalo Sabres
team
sack (American football ) to tackle a quarterback
behind the line of scrimmage before he can pass
the ball; (baseball ) another term for a base; (general
) another term for a footbag
sacker (baseball ) a fielder who guards a base
sacrifice (baseball ) a play in which a batter deliberately
makes an out in order to enable a
baserunner to score or advance to another base
saddle ( general ) a seat for a rider, as on a horse, bicycle,
or motorcycle; (horse racing) (1) to put a
129 run-in • saddle
saddle on a horse; (2) to be responsible, as a
trainer, for preparing and entering a horse in a
race
Saddlers (association football ) nickname of the English
club Walsall [from the town’s saddlemaking
industry]
safe (baseball ) having reached base before being
thrown out by the fielding side
safety (American football ) (1) one of two defensive
players positioned behind the other defenders;
(2) a play in which the offense carries the ball
over their own goal line rather than back into the
field of play, an act that scores two points for
the defense; (snooker) a period of play in which
each player tries to prevent his opponent from
scoring points by keeping the cue ball in positions
where he will find it hard to pot it
safety bindings (skiing) devices that hold the feet
to the skis and that release automatically to prevent
injury if the wearer falls
safety car (auto racing) a saloon car that comes out
on to the track after an accident and that sets
the speed of the race cars that follow it, especially
if there are marshals on the track
safety lane (cycling) a lane in a velodrome between
the pole line and the center of the track
safety play (snooker) fuller term for a safety
safety shot (snooker) a defensive shot designed to
make it hard for one’s opponent to pot the cue
ball, as in a safety
safety squeeze (baseball ) a tactical maneuver in
which a baserunner at third base begins to run
toward home plate as soon as the batter makes
contact with the ball
safetyman (American football ) fuller term for a
safety
sag wagon (cycling) colloquial term for a vehicle that
follows the cyclists in a road race to give mechanical
assistance or pick up exhausted riders
sail (sailing) a sheet of material spread to catch the
wind and so propel a boat through the water
sail-off (sailing) an additional contest held in case
of a tie
sailboard (windsurfing) a craft consisting of a
board like a surfboard with a mast that has a
single sail
sailboarding (sport) another term for windsurfing
sailer (baseball ) a pitched fastball that takes off [it
“sails”]
sailing (sport) the sport or recreation of traveling
across water in a boat or yacht propelled by one
or more sails, as a competitive sport alternately
known as yachting until 2000
sailplane (gliding) a glider that can rise with an
upward current and remain long in the air
St. Andrews ( golf ) the golf course of the Royal
and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews
St. George’s (archery) a round of 36 arrows each
for men at 100, 80, and 60yds (91m, 73m, and
55m)
St. Leger (horse racing) an annual race for threeyear-
old colts and fillies run at Doncaster since
1778 [founded by Colonel Barry St. Leger
(1737–1789)]
St. Moritz (bobsledding) a town in eastern Switzerland
with a run constructed in 1902
Saints (American football ) short name of the New
Orleans Saints team; (association football ) (1)
nickname of the English club Southampton
[from the club’s original name, Southampton St.
Mary’s]; (2) short name of the Scottish club St.
Johnstone; (Australian Rules) short name of the
St. Kilda Saints team; (rugby league) short name
of the English club St. Helens; (rugby union)
short name of the English club Northampton
Saints
Salchow (ice skating) a jump in which the skater
takes off from the back inside edge of one skate,
spins in the air, then lands on the back outside
edge of the other skate [first performed by the
Swedish figure skater Ulrich Salchow (1877–
1949)]
sales race (horse racing) a race of horses purchased
at a sale in which they were grouped by age or sex
(as yearlings, colts, or fillies)
Salisbury (horse racing) a flat racecourse at
Netherhampton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Sally Gunnell ( golf ) colloquial name for a shot
that travels a long distance along the fairway
[after the English champion athlete Sally Gunnell
(1966–)]
salto ( g ymnastics) an aerial somersault in which
the gymnast’s feet come up over his head and
his body rotates around his waist [Italian salto,
“leap”]
Saltoun (angling) a type of artificial fly [probably
after the 18th Lord Saltoun (died 1886)]
salute ( fencing) the formal performance of certain
movements before engaging
sambo (wrestling) a variant of the sport resembling
judo [Russian acronym of samozashchita bez
oruzhiya, “self-defense without weapons”]
San Marino Grand Prix (auto racing) the Formula
One international Grand Prix held on the circuit
at Imola, northern Italy, there being no circuit
in San Marino itself
San Siro (association football ) a stadium in Milan,
Italy, that shared as a home ground by the clubs
AC Milan and Inter Milan
sand iron ( golf ) another term for a sand wedge
sand save ( golf ) a shot with a wedge from a
bunker followed by a single putt that sends the
ball into the hole
Saddlers • sand save 130
sand trap ( golf ) another term for a bunker
sand wedge ( golf ) a club giving a good loft that
is specially adapted to lift the ball out of a
bunker
sandbag (motorcycle racing) to let the rest of the
field go on ahead in the confidence that one can
regain the lead and win the race
Sandown Park (horse racing) a flat and National
Hunt racecourse at Esher, Surrey, England, the
location of the Eclipse Stakes
sandwich boat (rowing) the crew that finishes top
of a division in a bumping race, when they have
the option of starting again at the bottom of the
next higher division on the chance of making
another bump and remaining in that higher division
Sanzar (rugby union) an acronymic name for the
competitive union of South Africa, New
Zealand, and Australia, who individually contest
the Tri-Nations Championship
Sarries (rugby union) short name of the English
club Saracens
sausage board (surfing) a surfboard rounded at
both ends
savate (boxing) a form of the sport in which both
feet and fists are used [French savate, originally
a type of shoe]
save (association football ) a goalkeeper’s successful
attempt at stopping the ball from entering
the net; (baseball ) the credit given a relief
pitcher for successfully preserving a team’s narrow
lead to the end of a game
SBX (snowboarding) abbreviation of snowboard
cross
Scarlets (rugby union) short name of the Welsh
club Llanelli Scarlets
scatback (American football ) colloquial term for a
fast-running backfield player
scatter (baseball ) to keep the score down as a
pitcher with a play that yields few hits
school (equestrianism, horse racing) to train a horse
schuss (skiing) a straight slope on which a fast
downhill run can be made [German Schuss,
“shot”]
schussboom (skiing) to ski at high speed [combination
of schuss and boom, “to sail fast”]
scissor kick (association football ) a kick in which the
player jumps in the air with one leg outstretched
then brings forward the other leg to kick the ball
scissors (association football ) shortening of scissor
kick; (athletics) a high jump in which the athlete
crosses the bar in a seated position, bringing
his trailing leg up as his leading leg goes
down on the other side of the bar; ( g ymnastics)
any movement involving the opening and closing
of the legs; (rugby league, rugby union) shortening
of scissors pass; (swimming) shortening
of scissors kick; (wrestling) a hold in which a
contestant uses his legs to grip his opponent’s
head and then locks them at the instep or ankles
to apply pressure
scissors hold (wrestling) fuller term for scissors
scissors kick (swimming) a kick used in the sidestroke
in which the legs are parted slowly then
brought suddenly together
scissors pass (rugby league, rugby union) a move in
which the ball is passed by a player running diagonally
across the pitch to a teammate running
behind him at a different angle
sclaff ( golf ) a stroke in which the sole of the club
scrapes the ground before striking the ball
[probably alteration of scruff]
scoop ( general ) a sweeping shot that sends the ball
up into the air, as with the bat in cricket or the
stick in field hockey; (surfing) the upturned
nose of the surfboard
scope (horse racing) the potential of a horse to improve
with age
scorcher ( general ) a fast or powerful shot or stroke
score ( general ) a total or record of points won in
a game, either by an individual or a team
score draw (association football ) a drawn game in
which both teams have scored at least once
score orienteering (orienteering) a form of the sport
in which the competitors must visit as many
control points as they can, each point having a
different score value
scoreboard ( general ) a large board for publicly displaying
the current score in a game, as in cricket
or tennis
scorebook (cricket) a book specially prepared for
entering the score
scorebox (cricket) a hut or other structure in which
the scorers work
scorecard (general) a card specially prepared for entering
the score, as in baseball, cricket, or golf
scoreline ( general ) a line in a newspaper or other
publication giving the score in a contest
scorer (association football ) a player who scores
goals; ( general ) an official who keeps a record
of the score in a game or contest
scoresheet ( general ) a sheet specially prepared for
entering the score, as in association football,
baseball, or cricket
scoring hit (boxing) a fair hit which, if the judges
agree, earns the boxer one point
scoring space (association football ) the part of the
pitch in which most of the goals are scored
scorpion kick (association football ) an unconventional
save by a goalkeeper in which he places
his hands on the ground and then, in a near
handstand, raises his legs to kick the ball away
with his heels [his body assumes the shape of a
scorpion with raised tail]
131 sand trap • scorpion
Scottish FA Cup (association football) the trophy
awarded to the winners of the final in a competition
held by the Scottish Football Association
since 1874
Scottish Football League (association football ) a
league of 3 divisions founded in 1890
Scottish League (association football ) shortening
of Scottish Football League
Scottish Premier League (association football ) a
league formed in 1998 by the top teams in the
Scottish Football League
scout ( general ) a person who searches for new talent
among the players of a team or club other
than his own
scramble (American football ) a series of movements
made by a quarterback to evade tacklers; (auto
racing, motorcycle racing) a race with a course
over rough or hilly terrain; ( golf ) to play erratically
but with the odd good stroke and even a
chance of winning a match
scramble leg (skiing) the first leg of a relay race in
cross-country skiing [so called from its
bunched mass start]
scrambler ( golf ) a player who scrambles; (motorcycle
racing) a modified motorcycle of the type
used in a scramble
scrambling (auto racing, motorcycle racing) dedicated
participation in scrambles
scratch ( golf ) having a handicap of zero; (horse
racing) to remove a horse from a race after entering
it; (snooker) to hit the cue ball into a
pocket, thereby incurring a penalty
scratch hit (baseball ) a poor hit that even so allows
the batter to reach first base
scratch race (cycling) a straightforward track race
over a distance of 15km (10km for women)
scratch sheet (horse racing) a publication listing
horses scratched from races and giving their
odds
screamer ( general ) a powerful shot or kick, as in
tennis or association football
screen (American football, basketball) a maneuver in
which an attacking player is protected by a group
of teammates; (cricket) shortening of sight screen
screw (billiards, snooker) a stroke that imparts
backspin or sidespin to the cue ball by striking
it below its center so that it recoils backward or
sideways after striking the object ball
screw shot (billiards, snooker) fuller term for a
screw
screwball (baseball ) a pitch that breaks in the opposite
direction to a conventional curveball or
slider
scrimmage (American football ) (1) a sequence of
play beginning with the snap and ending when
the ball is dead; (2) a practice session of this sequence
scrub ( general ) (1) an inferior player; (2) a team
made up of such players; (horse racing) a backand-
forth movement of the arms and legs made
by a jockey on the neck and flanks of a horse to
urge it forward, especially near the end of a race
scrubber ( general ) an inferior player
scruff ( golf ) alternate form of sclaff
scrum (rugby league, rugby union) a formation to
restart play in which the forwards of both teams
close in, in three rows, then with arms interlocked
and heads down push against each other,
whereupon the ball is thrown in between them
and they attempt to kick it out to their own team
[shortening of scrummage]
scrum down (rugby league, rugby union) to form a
scrum
scrum half (rugby league, rugby union) the halfback
who puts the ball into the scrum and attempts
to secure it as soon as it emerges and send
it to the backs
scrummage (rugby league, rugby union) formal term
for a scrum [variant of scrimmage]
scrutineering (auto racing) the inspection of cars by
the officials before a race to ensure compliance
with technical regulations; (motorcycle racing)
the inspection of bikes before a race by the
officials to ensure compliance with technical regulations
scuba (aquatics) an apparatus used by skindivers,
consisting in a breathing tube attached to a
cylinder of compressed air [acronym of selfcontained
underwater breathing apparatus]
Scuderia (auto racing) a name used to refer to the
Ferrari Formula One team [Italian scuderia, “stable”]
Scudetto (association football ) informal name of
the Italian Serie A championship [Italian
scudetto, “shield,” from the shield that the
winners wear on their shirts for the following
season]
scull (rowing) (1) a short, spoon-bladed oar used in
pairs by a single rower; (2) a light boat propelled
by such oars; (swimming) a movement of the
hands against the water in synchronized swimming
sculling race (rowing) a race between rowers who
are each in a scull
sculls (rowing) another term for a sculling race
scurry (equestrianism) a short race in showjumping
and carriage-driving, a contest in
which a fault is counted as a time penalty
Seagulls (association football ) nickname of the English
club Brighton and Hove Albion [for the
birds that frequent the coastal city]
Seahawks (American football ) short name of the
Seattle Seahawks team
seam (cricket) the raised stitching on a cricket ball
Scottish • seam 132
seam bowler (cricket) a bowler who uses the seam
of the ball to make it deviate on pitching
seam bowling (cricket) the fast or medium-paced
bowling of a seam bowler
seamer (cricket) (1) shortening of seam bowler; (2)
a ball bowled by a seam bowler
Seasiders (association football ) nickname of the English
club Blackpool [from the town’s fame as a
seaside resort]
season ( general ) (1) the natural period of the year
appropriate for a particular sport, as traditionally
(in Britain) the summer for cricket and the winter
for association football; (2) the calendar period
of the year usually devoted to a particular
sport; (3) the period during which an individual
or team has played a particular sport
season’s best (athletics) the best time or distance
achieved by an athlete in a season
seat drop (trampolining) a basic landing in a seated
position with the legs fully extended
second (boxing) an assistant who helps a boxer before
a bout and during the rests between rounds;
(mountaineering) the second climber of a team,
who follows the leader
second base (baseball ) the second of the bases to
which a player must run, located on the far side
of the mound from home plate
second baseman (baseball ) the fielder stationed
near second base, on the side nearer first base
second eleven (cricket) the second-best eleven to
represent a school, college, or the like
second five-eighth (rugby league) a player positioned
on the outside of a five eighth [a term
used in Australia and New Zealand]
second half ( general ) the half of a game or match
after half time
second home (lacrosse) the attacking player who is
the second of the three homes
second row (rugby league, rugby union) the two
forwards who make up the second row of the
scrum
second service (tennis) the second of a player’s two
permitted serves
second slip (cricket) the second of the three fielders
positioned in the slips
secondary (American football ) the defensive
backfield, behind the linebackers
seconde ( fencing) the second of eight basic parry
positions, used to protect the lower outside of
the right of the body [French seconde, “second”]
sedge (angling) an artificial fly resembling a sedge
fly
Sedgefield (horse racing) a National Hunt racecourse
at Sedgefield, Co. Durham, England
see off the new ball (cricket) to bat until the shine
has been removed from the new ball at the start
of an innings
seed (tennis) a good player who as the result of a
draw has been assigned a place in the order of
playing that will avoid an encounter with another
good player early in a tournament [the
player is listed numerically in programs, for example
No. 6 seed]
selection (horse racing) a horse selected by a bettor
as likely to win a race
selector (cricket) an official who selects a team captain
self-defense ( general ) the principle of physically
protecting oneself that applies in most of the
martial arts and that originally applied to boxing,
regarded as the art of self-defense
sell a dummy (association football, rugby league,
rugby union) to deceive an opponent by means of
a dummy
seller (horse racing) shortening of selling race
selling race (horse racing) a race whose winner
must be put up for auction at a previously fixed
price
selling plate (horse racing) another term for a selling
race
semi ( general ) colloquial shortening of semifinal
semiamateur ( general ) not playing for payment,
like a professional, but partly supported by a
sponsor
semifinal ( general ) a match or round held immediately
before the final
semipro ( general ) shortening of semiprofessional
semiprofessional ( general ) a part-time professional
player, receiving payment for his participation
but not relying on it for a living
Senators (ice hockey) short name of the Ottawa
Senators team
send back (cricket) to dismiss a batsman [he is
sent back to the pavilion]
send down (cricket) to bowl a ball [the bowler
sends it down the pitch]
send in (cricket) (1) to send a batsman into the
field to bat; (2) to nominate the opposing side
to bat first after winning the toss
send off (association football ) to order a player to
leave the pitch following an offense that merited
a red card or two offenses that merited two yellow
cards
senior circuit (baseball ) colloquial term for the
National League [so called as formed before the
American League]
Senior TT (motorcycle racing) the principal annual
TT race [for larger bikes than in the Junior TT]
sensei (karate) an instructor in the sport [Japanese
sen, “previous,” and sei, “birth”]
seoi nage (judo) a shoulder throw [Japanese seoi,
“to bear on the back,” and nage, “throw”]
sepak takraw (sport) a game of Asian origin resembling
a cross between badminton and vol-
133 seam bowler • sepak
leyball played with a rattan ball on a badminton
court [Malay sepak, “kick,” and Thai takran,
“rattan ball”]
septime ( fencing) the seventh of eight basic parry
positions, used to protect the lower inside of the
body [French septime, “seventh”]
Serie A (association football ) the premier division
in the Italian national league
serve (tennis) the opening shot of a point, in which
the player throws the ball up into the air then hits
it diagonally across the net to his opponent;
( general ) the opening shot in a game such as
badminton or squash
serve and volley (tennis) a style of play in which a
player runs up to the net after a serve in order
to take up a position for a volley
server ( general ) the player making a serve
service (tennis) another term for a serve
service box (squash) the square area in each quarter
court within which the server serves
service court (badminton) one of the two boxes
into which the rear part of the court is divided
and from which the server serves; (tennis) the
box on the other side of the net into which the
server must place the ball when serving
service game (tennis) a game in which it is a particular
player’s turn to serve
service line (badminton, tennis) the boundary of
the service court
service park (auto racing) in rally driving, the area
where a crew carries out any running repairs to
a car
service side (real tennis) the half of the court from
which the ball is served
service winner (tennis) a shot by the receiver that
sends the ball out of court [it is a winner because
the serve was an ace]
session (cricket) one of the three periods of play in
a full day’s play, the first being from the start of
play to lunch, the second from lunch to tea, and
the third from tea to the close of play
set (badminton, squash) to extend a game by a
specified number of points; ( general ) a group of
games counting as a unit, as in volleyball;
(snooker) another term for a plant; (tennis) a series
of games in which the winner is the first to
win at least six games and at least two games
more than his opponent
set! ( general ) the command given by the starter of
a race to prepare competitors for the starting
signal [short for “get set!”]
set blow (shinty) the equivalent of a free hit
set one (squash) a winning score of nine points
set piece (association football ) a carefully planned
and executed play from a corner kick or free
kick near the penalty area; (rugby union) a
scrum or a lineout
set play ( general ) a prearranged maneuver carried
out after a restart by the team then in the lead
set point (tennis) a point that wins a set
set scrum (rugby league, rugby union) an organized
scrum, as ordered by the referee
set shot (basketball) a shot at the basket made by
a stationary player
set-to (boxing) a renewed attack
set two (squash) a winning score of ten points
set up ( general ) (1) to prepare the way for a move
or maneuver, as a shot at goal in association
football; (2 to contrive to place a player or team
in a vulnerable position
set-up (billiards, snooker) a position of the balls
from which it is easy to score; (boxing) a boxer
who can be easily defeated by a particular opponent
and who is selected for this very reason
set-up man (baseball ) a relief pitcher who usually
enters the game in the seventh or eight inning
with the aim of preserving a lead for the
closer
setter (volleyball) a player who plays the ball in a
volley for a teammate to spike
seven-a-side (rugby union) a form of the game
played by seven players on each side instead of 15,
the emphasis being on speed and ball skills
seven-meter line (handball ) the line, seven meters
from the goal, from where a seven-meter
throw is taken
seven-meter throw (handball ) a penalty throw
taken as a direct shot on goal from the sevenmeter
line, which the player must not cross before
the ball leaves his hand
sevens (rugby union) shortening of seven-a-side
seventh-inning stretch (baseball ) a break after the
top half of the seventh inning, during which
spectators can stand up and walk about before
settling again to watch the climax
76ers (basketball) short name of the Philadelphia
76ers team
sex test ( general ) popular name for a gender
verification test, a medical procedure that determines
the sex of a female competitor suspected
of being wholly or partly male
shadow boxing (boxing) sparring practice with an
imaginary opponent
shadow skating (ice skating) a routine in pair
skating in which the skaters perform with coordinated
movements but not in physical contact
with each other
shaft (darts) the part of the dart that screws into
the barrel and holds the flight; ( golf ) the long
handle of the club, on which the clubhead is
set
shag (baseball ) to chase after fly balls as part of
fielding practice
shake ’n’ bake (basketball) colloquial term for
septime • shake 134
showy play, with rapid changes of direction and
neat handling of the ball
shakedown (auto racing) in rally driving, the testing
of cars by their drivers on roads similar to
those used in a rally, usually carried out the day
before the rally itself
shakehands (table tennis) a grip of the bat that resembles
“shaking hands” with it
Shakers (association football ) nickname of the English
club Bury [from the religious sect of “Shaking
Quakers” (not the American Shakers), historically
connected with the town]
shamateur ( general ) rather dated term for a
sportsperson who retains amateur status while
receiving payment (like a professional) for playing
or competing [a “sham amateur”]
shanghai (darts) colloquial term for the feat of
scoring a single, double, and treble of the same
number with a set of three darts [from a form of
the game in which players failing to score were
eliminated or “shanghaied”]
shank ( golf ) a mishit close to the heel of the club
in which the ball makes contact with the hosel,
causing it to fly to the right (for a right-handed
player)
Sharks (ice hockey) short name of the San Jose
Sharks team; (rugby union) short name of the
English club Sale Sharks
sharpshooter ( general ) a player having very good
aim
Shaymen (association football ) nickname of the English
club Halifax Town [from the Shay, the
team’s home ground]
sheet (curling) the strip of ice on which the game
is played; (sailing) a rope attached to the lower
corner of a sail
Sheffield Shield (cricket) name until 1999 of the
Pura Cup [from the 3d Lord Sheffield, who took
an English team to Australia in 1891 and donated
£150 for a trophy]
shell (rowing) a light narrow racing boat
shell out (baseball ) to score heavily against an opposing
team
shepherding (Australian Rules) the (legitimate)
blocking of an opponent from tackling a teammate
in possession of the ball
shield ( general ) a trophy in the form or shape of
a shield, awarded to the winner of a contest
shift (American football ) the movement of two or
more offensive players into different starting positions
before the snap
shime-waza (judo) a stranglehold [Japanese
shimeru, “to tighten,” and waza, “technique”]
shinty (sport) a game of Scottish origin similar to
field hockey, played between teams of 12 with
a caman and a leather-covered cork ball [said
to derive from shin ye!, a cry used in the game]
Shire (association football ) short name of the Scottish
club East Stirlingshire
shirt swapping (association football ) a traditional
exchange of shirts between a player and his
marker at the end of a match
shirtfront (cricket) (of ) a smooth and even pitch
shodan (judo, karate) a degree of proficiency equivalent
to first dan or first degree black belt [Japanese
sho, “primary,” and dan, “grade”]
shoo-in (horse racing) a horse allowed to win a race
fraudulently [the jockeys decide which horse is to
win and everyone else “shoos it in” past the post]
shoot (association football ) to take a shot at goal;
(shooting) a match or contest
shoot-off (shooting) an additional contest to resolve
a tie
shoot-out (American football ) a method of resolving
a tie in which five players from both teams
are given five seconds each to score against the
goalkeeper, the team with the most goals receiving
one point to break the tie; (association
football ) shortening of penalty shoot-out; (general
) a keen and decisive contest
shoot set (volleyball) a volley in the form of a pass
that travels fast and low over the net
shooter (cricket) colloquial term for a bowled ball
that stays low after pitching
shooting (sport) the competitive sport of firing at
a target with a pistol or rifle
shooting circle (field hockey, netball) the D-shaped
area in front of the goal from which a shot at
goal must be taken
shooting glove (archery) a glove worn to protect
the hand when drawing a bow
shooting guard (basketball) a guard who specializes
in taking long-range shots
shooting range (shooting) a specially prepared area
with targets for practice or competition in the
sport
shop (billiards) to pot one’s opponent’s ball [as
when one “shops” (betrays) an accomplice to the
police]
short (cricket) (1) a fielding position closer than
normal to the batsman; (2) (of ) a bowled ball
that bounces at some distance from the batsman;
(horse racing) not on top form
short ball (cricket) a ball that pitches with a short
length
short corner (field hockey) another term for a
penalty corner
short field (baseball ) the part of the field in which
the shortstop plays
short fielder (baseball ) another term for a shortstop
short game ( golf ) play on and around the green
short-handed (ice hockey) having one or more players
on the penalty bench
135 shakedown • short-handed
short head (greyhound racing, horse racing) a narrow
win that is shorter than a head but longer
than a nose
short iron ( golf ) an iron (usually an 8- or 9-iron
or a wedge) used to play shots from close to the
green
short leg (cricket) a fielding position very near (and
in line with) the batsman on the leg side
short line (squash) a line extending the full width
of the court 18ft (5.44m) from the front wall
short odds (horse racing) odds in a bet that are favorable
in terms of risk but unfavorable in terms
of potential gain
short program (ice skating) a routine in which the
skaters have to perform preset movements, unlike
a free program
short run (cricket) a run not properly completed by
the batsman
short slip (cricket) another term for first slip
short square leg (cricket) a fielder at a square leg
position close to the wicket
short stuff ( golf ) colloquial term for the fairway
[where the grass is short by contrast with the
rough]
short tennis (tennis) a form of the game for children,
played on a small court with a small racket
and a soft ball
short-track (speed skating) a form of the sport in
which contestants race in packs around an oval
track over distances varying from 500m to
5,000m
shortarm (boxing) (of ) a punch delivered with a
bent arm rather than an extended one
shortboard (surfing) a board shorter than the
norm, ridden mainly by experienced surfers
shorten up (rowing) to row too fast at too high a
rating, with the oar not pulled its full length
through the water
shortstop (baseball ) the fielder positioned between
second base and third base
shot (angling) a cast of the net; (archery) (1) a discharged
arrow; (2) the point where it strikes the
target; (association football ) a kick of the ball at
goal; (athletics) the heavy metal ball resembling
a cannonball thrown in the shot put; (bowls) (1)
the point gained for placing one’s bowl nearer
the jack than the nearest bowl of one’s opponent;
(2) the position closest to the jack; ( general)
a stroke, throw, or hit; (rowing) an attempt
to overtake and touch the boat in front in a
bumping race; (shooting) (1) a discharged bullet;
(2) the point where it strikes the target
shot bowl (bowls) the bowl nearest the jack
shot clock (basketball) the clock that records the
length of time a team retains possession of the
ball before attempting a shot, an excess of the
prescribed time being an offense
shot put (athletics) a field event in which an athlete
throws a shot as far as possible
shot to nothing (snooker) an attempt to pot a ball
in such a way that if the shot is missed the
player’s opponent will not be left with an easy
opportunity
shotgun (American football ) an offensive formation
to facilitate passing in which the quarterback
stands some way behind the center and
the other backs are stationed to act as pass receivers
or blockers
shotmaker (basketball, golf, tennis) a player noted
for making skillful shots
shotokan (karate) one of the five main forms of
the sport [Japanese sho, “true,” to, “way,” and
kan, “mansion”]
shoulder (cricket) the curved upper edge of the
blade, near to where it joins the handle; (surfing)
the calm portion of a wave breaking on the beach
shoulder arms (cricket) to hold the bat over one’s
shoulder in order to allow the ball to pass without
attempting a stroke
shoulder stand ( g ymnastics) a movement in which
the gymnast holds his body and legs up in the
air, supporting them on his shoulders
shovel pass (American football ) a pass in which a
player flicks the ball out of his hand without extending
his arm
show (horse racing) the third place in a race
show eyes (bowls) to roll with a wobble so that the
side disk of the bowl continually “winks”
show the bowler the maker’s name (cricket) to
bat defensively with a straight bat [so that the
bowler can read the name of the bat’s manufacturer]
showjumper (equestrianism) a horse or rider who
takes part in showjumping
showjumping (equestrianism) a discipline in
which horse and rider clear a number of obstacles
on a fixed course, usually within a time
limit, earning penalty points for faults
shredding (snowboarding) to travel fast downhill
while moving one’s body from one side of the
board to the other
Shrews (association football ) short name of the English
club Shrewsbury Town
Shrimpers (association football ) nickname of the
English club Southend United [from the shrimps
gathered in the sands of this seaside resort]
shunt (auto racing) an accident in which one car
crashes into another
shuriken (martial arts) a missile in the form of a star
with projecting blades or points [Japanese shu,
“hand,” ri, “inside,” and ken, “blade”]
shut the door (auto racing) to steer across the track
in order to prevent a rival from passing
shuto (judo, karate) a movement of the hand in the
short • shuto 136
manner of a sword [Japanese shu, “hand,” and
to, “sword”]
shutout ( general ) a game in which the opposition
fails to score
shuttle (badminton) shortening of shuttlecock
shuttlecock (badminton) the object hit back and
forth in the game, as a lightweight cone in the
form of a rounded cork stuck with flights
side (billiards, snooker) a spin given to a ball by
striking it to left or right of its center, causing it
to swerve and alter its angle of rebound
side charge (Gaelic football ) a shoulder charge on
an opponent who is in possession of the ball or
about to play it
side judge (American football ) a member of the
officiating team whose duties are similar to those
of the back judge
sideboards (polo) the short boards along the side of
the field which help to keep the ball in play
sidecar (motorcycle racing) a small passenger car attached
to a motorcycle
sidefoot (American football, association football ) to
kick with the inside of the foot
sideline ( general ) to remove a player from a team
because of injury; (table tennis) a white line along
each side of the table
sideline kick (Gaelic football ) a kick taken from
the side of the pitch after the ball has gone out
of play
sidelines ( general ) in field games, the lines marking
either side of the playing area
sideslip (skiing) a sideways downward slide
sidespin (table tennis) spin imparted to the ball
by striking it sideways with the bat
sidestep (rugby league, rugby union) a sudden
change of direction made in order to avoid a
tackle from an opponent
sidestroke (swimming) a stroke performed by a
swimmer lying on one side
sidewinder (boxing) a blow struck from the side
sight (archery) a guide to the eye on a bow; (shooting)
a guide to the eye on a rifle
sight screen (cricket) a white board on wheels
placed outside the boundary behind the bowler,
used to help the batsman pick out the approaching
ball
sighter (archery, shooting) a practice shot fired at
the beginning of a match to check the adjustments
of the sights
signal ( general ) a sound or gesture made by an
official to convey a particular point of information
during play, as of a referee in association
football or an umpire in cricket
signal caller (American football ) a player who signals
the next move or formation to his teammates
Silkmen (association football ) nickname of the English
club Macclesfield Town [from the local
silk-manufacturing industry]
silks (horse racing) the shirt and cap worn by a
jockey, made in the racing colors of the horse’s
owner
silly (cricket) (of ) a fielding position very close to
the batsman [where one risks being struck by
the ball]
silly mid-off (cricket) a fielder positioned in front
of the bowler on the off side, close to the batsman
silly mid-on (cricket) a fielder positioned in front
of the bowler on the on side, close to the batsman
silly point (cricket) a fielder positioned on the off
side very close to the batsman on a line with
the popping crease
silver (Olympics) shortening of sliver medal
silver duck (cricket) a duck scored by a batsman on
his second ball [from silver as a second award]
Silver Ferns (netball ) nickname of the New
Zealand national team [from the tall tree fern
native to New Zealand]
silver goal (association football ) the first goal scored
in a period of 15 minutes extra time, as a
method of settling a draw, with a further 15
minutes if still a draw, at the end of which, if
still a draw, a penalty shoot-out was held [a system
in force from 2002 to 2004, when it was
withdrawn, like the golden goal]
Silver Goblets and Nickalls Challenge Cup (rowing)
the trophy awarded to the winner of a race
for coxless pairs at Henley Royal Regatta [inaugurated
in 1845 with the Goblets introduced
as presentation prizes in 1850 and the Nickalls
Challenge Cup donated in 1895 by Tom Nickalls
in commemoration of his sons, Guy Nickalls
(1866–1935) and Vivian Nickalls (1870–1947),
who between them won 11 Goblets]
silver medal (Olympics) the medal awarded as second
prize [silver is a less valuable metal than
gold but more valuable than bronze]
silver ring (horse racing) an enclosure at a racecourse
where smaller bets are laid [the bets were
originally laid in silver coins rather than banknotes]
silver slugger (baseball ) an annual award made to
the outstanding batter in the league at each position
Silverstone (auto racing) a circuit at the village of
Silverstone, Northamptonshire, England, the
regular location of the British Grand Prix
silverware ( general ) sporting trophies made from
(or coated with) silver
simple grip (weightlifting) a grip for holding the
barbell that has four fingers on one side balanced
by the thumb on the other side
137 shutout • simple
sin bin ( general ) colloquial term for the enclosure
to which a player is sent for a given period of
time when suspended from a game for unruly
behavior; (ice hockey) colloquial term for the
penalty bench
Singapore Grand Prix (auto racing) the Formula
One international Grand Prix held on the Marina
Bay street circuit in Singapore
single (baseball ) a hit that allows the batter to
reach first base; (cricket) a hit for one run; (tennis)
a game played with one player on each side
single-foot (equestrianism) in dressage, a brisk
walking pace with one foot on the ground at a
time
single leg tackle (wrestling) a move in which a
wrestler brings his opponent down by using an
armhold on one of his legs
single scull (rowing) a one-manned boat in which
the rower has a pair of sculls
single-wicket (cricket) a form of the game in which
individual players take it in turns to bat for a
limited number of overs
sink (billiards, snooker) colloquial term for pot
sink a putt ( golf ) to send a putt into the hole
sink-and-draw (angling) a method of taking fish by
weighting a deadbait with lead, arming it with
hooks, and allowing it to sink to the bottom,
after which it is drawn up in a motion that causes
it to dive and swoop
sinker (angling) a weight used to sink a fishing line;
(baseball ) a fastball with a downward movement;
(windsurfing) a short board used by experienced
surfers for sailing in high winds
sire (greyhound racing) the father of a greyhound;
(horse racing) the father of a foal
sit down ( golf ) to land on the green and not roll
any further
sit in (cycling) to ride close to the rider in front in
order to slipstream
sit on the splice (cricket) to bat defensively [as if sitting
on the splice of the bat]
sit out (sailing) to keep the boat flat in the water by
hiking
sit spin (ice skating) a spin performed in a seated
position close to the ice, with one leg bent and
the other fully extended [originated by the U.S.
skater Jackson Haines (1840–1879)]
sit-ups ( general ) a series of exercise movements,
typically carried out in a gymnasium, in which
the head and torso are raised from a lying position
while the legs remain still
sitter ( general ) (1) an easy catch, as in baseball or
cricket; (2) an easy shot
sitting sports ( general ) sports in which the participant
is seated, as cycling, equestrianism, rowing
or sailing
sitzmark (skiing) an impression in the snow made
by a skier falling backward [German sitzen, “to
sit,” and English mark]
six (cricket) a score of six runs gained by hitting
the ball over the boundary without its touching
the ground
six-day race (cycling) a track race held on six successive
evenings
six-meter line (handball ) the curving line six meters
from the goal that marks the goal area
Six Nations (rugby union) an annual championship
in which teams from England, Ireland,
Scotland, Wales, France, and Italy compete
against one another [until 2000, when Italy
joined, known as the Five Nations]
six-yard area (association football ) another term
for the six-yard box
six-yard box (association football ) the rectangular
area in front of the goal from which a goal kick
can be taken
six-yard line (association football ) the line marking
the limit of the six-yard box
six-zero defense (handball ) a defensive formation
in which all of the players (except the goalkeeper)
line up along the six-meter line to
block the attackers
sixte ( fencing) the sixth of eight basic parry positions,
used to protect the upper right-hand side
of the body [French sixte, “sixth”]
sixth man (basketball) the best substitute player
in a team
sixth tackle (rugby league) the last of the six allowable
tackles in the set, leading to a handover
skateboard (skateboarding) a narrow board, similar
to a small surfboard, that is mounted on
trucks that bear small wheels
skateboarding (sport) the sport of riding on a
skateboard, on which the rider stands and
coasts along, turning it by shifting his weight
and occasionally pushing one foot against the
ground, in the manner of a scooter, in order to
maintain forward progress
skatepark (skateboarding) a park or area for riding
a skateboard
skates (ice hockey, ice skating) shortening of ice
skates; (roller skating) shortening of roller skates
skating (sport) (1) shortening of ice skating; (2)
shortening of roller skating
skating rink (ice hockey, ice skating) alternate term
for an ice rink; (roller skating) fuller term for a
rink
skeet (shooting) a form of clay-pigeon shooting
in which the targets are thrown from traps and
the shooter moves in a semicircle to different stations
[apparently alteration of shoot]
skeg (rowing) a stabilizing fin attached to the stern
section of the hull; (sailboarding) a stabilizing
fin on the underside of a sailboard; (surfing) a
sin • skeg 138
stabilizing fin on the underside of a surfboard
[Dutch scheg, “cutwater”]
skeleton (bobsledding) shortening of skeleton bob
skeleton bob (bobsledding) a form of bobsled with
no brakes or steering mechanism on which a person
races head-first down an ice-covered course
[“skeleton” because basic]
ski archery (sport) a combination of archery and
cross-country skiing
ski blades (skiing) a type of very short skis, although
often wider than regular skis, resembling
a cross between a ski and a snowboard
ski boat (water skiing) a type of small powerboat,
used to tow water skiers
ski bum (skiing) a devotee of the sport, especially
one who travels widely in search of snowy conditions
ski-flying (skiing) jumping from a high takeoff
point, so that a greater time is spent in the air
ski jump (skiing) (1) a steeply-sloping, snowcovered
track ending in an elevated platform
from which a skier jumps; (2) the jump itself
ski-kiting (water skiing) a form of the sport in
which the skier holds on to a bar attached to a
kitelike device
ski lift (skiing) a mechanism for carrying skiers uphill,
consisting of seats suspended from an overhead
cable
ski mountaineering (sport) a combination of skiing
and mountaineering, using light skis
ski-o (orienteering) a form of orienteering on skis
ski pole (skiing) another term for a ski stick
ski run (skiing) a snow slope prepared for skiing
on
ski slope (skiing) a snowy slope prepared for skiers
to descend
ski stick (skiing) one of a pair of pointed sticks,
with a disk near the tip, used by skiers for balance,
propulsion, or braking
ski touring (skiing) the sport or recreation of traveling
across country on skis
ski tow (skiing) a type of ski lift in the form of an
endless moving chain of bars or seats, suspended
from an overhead cable; (water skiing) a tow rope
for water skiers
skibob (skiing) a vehicle resembling a bicycle with
skis, used for descending a snow slope
skibobbing (skiing) the sport of riding on a skibob
skid lid (cycling) colloquial term for a helmet
skier (cricket) a ball hit high in the air by the batsman
skiff (rowing) a type of small light boat
skiing (sport) the recreation or competitive sport
of descending a snowy slope on skis
skijoring (skiing) a form of the sport in which the
skier is towed by a horse or motor vehicle [Norwegian
skikjøring, from ski, “ski,” and kjøring,
“driving”]
skimboard (surfing) a type of thin surfboard without
a skeg used for riding shallow water
skimmer (cricket) a ball from the bowler that travels
with a low trajectory
skin the cat ( g ymnastics) to execute a move in
which the gymnast passes his feet and legs between
his arms while hanging by his hands from
the horizontal bar, so drawing his body up and
over the bar
skindiver (aquatics) a person who engages in skindiving
skindiving (aquatics) the recreation of diving and
swimming underwater, with breathing equipment
(usually a scuba or aqualung) carried on
the back
skins ( golf ) a type of matchplay in which each
hole is worth a particular number of points;
(skiing) strips of fabric (originally sealskin) attached
to the underside of skis to prevent a skier
from slipping backward when climbing
skinsuit (cycling) an aerodynamic garment like a
swimsuit worn by racing cyclists
skip (athletics) another term for step; (bowls, cycling)
colloquial abbreviation of skipper
skipper (bowls, cycling) the captain of a team
skipping ( golf ) the technique of hitting a ball over
water so that it skips the surface
skis (skiing) long narrow runners (originally of
wood), usually pointed and turned up at the
front, fastened under the feet to enable travel
over snow downhill or on the level; (water skiing)
shortening of water skis [a Norwegian word]
skish (angling) a contest in which fishing tackle is
used to cast on dry land [origin uncertain but
perhaps a blend of skill and fish]
skitter (angling) to fish by drawing the bait over the
surface of the water
skittle (skittles) one of the pins used in the game
skittle alley (skittles) fuller term for an alley
skittle out (cricket) to dismiss a team for a low
score [their wickets fall like skittles]
skittles (sport) (1) a game in which nine skittles are
set up at the end of an alley to be bowled at and
knocked down in as few attempts as possible
Skolars (rugby league) short name of the English
club London Skolars
skull ( golf ) another term for thin
skurfing (skateboarding) colloquial term for the
sport [blend of skating and surfing]
Sky Blues (association football ) (1) nickname of the
English club Coventry City; (2) nickname of
the Scottish club Forfar Athletic [from the color
of the teams’ shirts]
skyboard (parachuting) a board similar to a skateboard,
used by skysurfers
139 skeleton • skyboard
skybox ( general ) a luxurious high seated area in a
stadium
skydiver (parachuting) a participant in skydiving
skydiving (parachuting) the carrying out of acrobatic
maneuvers while in free fall
skyer (cricket) another spelling of skier
skyhook (basketball) a variant of the jump hook in
which the ball is released from a point high
above the shooter’s head; (mountaineering) a type
of grappling-iron in the form of a small flattened
hook with an eye for attaching a rope, fixed temporarily
into a rock face
skyscraper (baseball, cricket) a ball hit high in the air
skysurfer (parachuting) a participant in skysurfing
skysurfing (parachuting) a form of skydiving in
which participants are attached to skyboards
slab (mountaineering) a smooth body of rock lying
at an angle to the horizontal
slalom (canoeing) a type of race in whitewater in
which paddlers have to pass through gates; (skiing)
a downhill race on a zigzag course between
artificial obstacles such as flags [Norwegian
slalåm, from sla, “sloping,” and låm, “track”]
slam ( general ) to score a goal with a forceful hit or
kick
slam dunk (basketball) a forceful (and usually dramatic)
dunk
slam-dunk smash (tennis) a smash suggestive of a
slam dunk in which a player jumps above the
ball to strike it down as forcefully as possible
[popularized in the 1990s by the U.S. player Pete
Sampras (1971 –)]
slamball (sport) a game resembling basketball with
eight trampolines
slant (American football ) a play in which the player
in possession of the ball enters or leaves the line
of scrimmage diagonally
slant pattern (American football ) the route of a receiver
running diagonally from the outside of
the field toward the middle
slap skates (speed skating) another term for clap
skates
slapshot (ice hockey) a fast powerful shot made
with the stick taken above the player’s head
sled (sled dog racing) a low conveyance on runners
drawn over snow by horses or dogs
sled dog racing (sport) races between teams of dogs
harnessed to sleds, especially as organized in
Alaska
sledge (sled dog racing) alternate form of sled
sledging (cricket) the barracking of a batsman by
fielders in order to upset his concentration [from
sledge in the sense “sledgehammer”]
sleeper (tenpin bowling) a pin that is not easily seen
because it is hidden behind another pin; (horse
racing) an apparently indifferent runner that
suddenly livens up and wins a race
sleigh (sled dog racing) another term for a sled
slice (association football ) a miskick that sends the
ball in an unintended direction; ( golf ) a mishit
that sends the ball from left to right in the air (for
a right-handed player) or from right to left (for
a left-handed player); (tennis) a shot played with
a slicing action that imparts backspin to the ball
slicks (auto racing) untreaded tires, used in dryweather
conditions [following a Formula One
ruling, slicks had grooves from 1998 through
2009]
slide (baseball ) a sliding approach along the ground
to a base; (rowing) shortening of sliding seat;
(surfing) a ride across the face of a wave
slider (baseball ) a fast pitch that deviates from its
original path; (bobsledding) colloquial term for a
participant in the sport; (cricket) a ball to which
the bowler has imparted backspin, so that it
bounces less than the batsman expects
sliding seat (rowing) a seat that slides back and
forth with the movement of the rower
sliding tackle (rugby league, rugby union) a tackle
made by a player in a sliding approach
Sligo (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt racecourse
in Co. Sligo, Ireland
sling (mountaineering) a short length of rope that
provides extra support for the body in abseiling
sliotar (hurling) the leather-covered ball [Irish sliotar]
slip (cricket) one of the three fielders (first slip,
second slip, third slip) positioned next to the
wicketkeeper on the off side
slips (cricket) the positions of the three slips
slipstream (auto racing) to drive close behind another
car in order to benefit from the vacuum
created and so attempt to pass; (cycling) to ride
close behind another rider or riders in order to
benefit from the decreased wind resistance and
so save energy
slob (angling) a large soft worm, used as bait
slog (cricket) a forceful and often unrefined hit of
the ball
slog overs (cricket) in limited-over games, the
overs at the end of an innings, when batsmen
attempt to score a large number of runs
slog sweep (cricket) a sweep in which the ball is hit
hard and in the air
slope soaring (gliding) increasing altitude in a
sailplane by using the moving air forced up by
a ridge
slopes (skiing) the snowy areas on a hill or mountain
down which skiers make their descent
slot (American football ) a gap in the defense line,
usually between the end and the tackle; (auto
racing) in rally driving, a turning or opening
marked for the driver to take; (ice hockey) an (unmarked)
area in front of the goal where an atskybox
• slot 140
tacking player would be well placed to take a
successful shot at goal
slot receiver (American football ) a receiver who
lines up further infield than a wide receiver
slotback (American football ) a back positioned behind
the slot
sloucher (horse racing) a jockey who deliberately
rides slowly in the early stages of a race
slow back! ( golf ) a direction to a new player when
the club is swung back from the ball in making
a stroke
slow bowler (cricket) a bowler who bowls the ball
at a slow speed
slow bowling (cricket) bowling by a slow bowler
slow side (association football ) the longest distance,
as the goalkeeper sees it, for the ball to travel
from a player toward or into the net
slug nutty (boxing) colloquial term for punch
drunk
slugfest (baseball, boxing) colloquial term for a
hard-hitting contest
slugger (baseball ) a batter who specializes in hitting
home runs
smack (cricket) a hard hit with the bat
small-bore rifle (shooting) a rifle with a narrow
bore, usually of .22in caliber
small forward (basketball) the smaller of a team’s
two forwards, the other being the power forward
smash (badminton, tennis) a powerful overhead
stroke hit downward; (table tennis) a hard flat
attacking stroke
smashball (sport) a game similar to tennis but
without a net in which two or more players
smash a ball back and forth with rackets
smooth (tennis) the side of a racket opposite to the
rough side, used as a call when the racket is spun
to decide on the server or choose an end
smother (rugby league, rugby union) a high tackle
in which a player overwhelms an opponent
Snakeboard (skateboarding) proprietary name of a
form of skateboard consisting of two footplates
joined by a bar, allowing greater maneuverability
than a standard board
snap (American football ) the action of starting a
play, as a pass of the ball from the line of
scrimmage back to the quarterback; (surfing) a
sharp turn back into the face of a wave
snapback (American football ) fuller term for a snap
snatch (weightlifting) a type of lift in which the
barbell is raised in one continuous movement
from the floor to above the head with the arms
straight
sneak (American football ) an attempt to advance
the ball a short distance by diving forward
straight after receiving the snap; (cricket) another
term for a daisycutter
snick (cricket) a slight deflection of the ball off the
edge of the bat
sniggle (angling) to catch a fish by hooking it with
a slight turn of the wrist
snooker (sport) (1) a game played on a standard
billiard table by two players with 21 colored
balls (15 of them red) and one white cue ball, the
aim being to pot the colored balls in a certain
order and gain more points than one’s opponent
in doing so; (2) a situation in which the path
between the cue ball and the object ball is
blocked, obliging the player to take an indirect
shot [said to derive from army slang for a raw
recruit, a term adopted for the game among
British troops in India, where it originated in
1875]
snorkel (aquatics) a short breathing tube used by
submerged swimmers [German Schnorchel]
snorter (cricket) a dangerously fast ball delivered by
the bowler
snow bunny (skiing) an inexperienced skier, especially
if female
snow sports ( general ) sports that take place on
snow, such as skiing and snowboarding
snowblading (skiing) a form of the sport using
short skis and no poles
snowboard (snowboarding) a board similar to a
skateboard but without wheels, guided by the
user with movements of the feet and body
snowboard cross (snowboarding) an event in which
groups of competitors race down a course featuring
jumps, turns, and moguls
snowboarding (sport) a sport similar to skiing or
skateboarding in which participants travel
down snow-covered slopes with their feet
strapped to a snowboard rather than skis
snowcross (motorcycle racing) races between snowmobiles
over a motocross circuit
snowdome ( general ) an indoor arena where winter
sports can take place around the year
snowmobile (motorcycle racing) a motorized sled
or tractorlike vehicle for traveling over snow
snowplow (skiing) the act of turning the front
points of the skis inward to slow down
snowsurfing (skiing) the sport of traveling downhill
on a large single ski like a surfboard
snurfing (skiing) colloquial name for snowsurfing
[blend of snow and surfing]
soaring ( general ) the act of flying high in a glider
or while being towed when suspended from a kite
soccer (sport) colloquial term for association football,
originally used to distinguish it from rugby
football [from assoc., abbreviation of association]
soccer fan (association football ) a keen supporter
of the sport
soccer field (association football ) a field where the
sport is played
141 slot receiver • soccer field
soccer match (association football ) another term
for a football match
soccer mom (association football ) colloquial term
for a mother who spends many hours driving
her children to organized sports activities, such
as soccer, and to supporting them in their participation
Socceroos (association football ) nickname of the
Australian national team [blend of soccer and
kangaroo, the Australian national animal]
socket ( golf ) the part of the clubhead that houses
the shaft of the club
soft (horse racing) a category of going
soft wicket (cricket) a wicket with damp, yielding
turf
softball (sport) a game similar to baseball played
between teams of nine with a large soft ball
pitched underarm, the aim being to gain runs by
hitting the ball with the bat and running past
all three bases before returning to home plate
soigneur (cycling) an official who is responsible for
a team’s food, drink, and kit and who provides
massage for riders after a race or stage [French
soigneur, “carer”]
soldier palmer (angling) a type of artificial fly
sole ( golf ) the undersurface of a clubhead
Solheim Cup ( golf ) the cup awarded to the winner
of a biennial tournament played between professional
women’s teams from the United States
and Europe [founded in 1990 by Karsten Solheim,
owner of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation]
solid ball (pool) a colored ball bearing a number in
a small white circle
soling (bowls) the action of delivering a bowl to
run evenly
Soling (sailing) a class of keelboat with a crew of
three [named from the initials of the boat’s sponsor,
Sverre Olsen, and the surname of its 1950s
designer, Jan Herman Linge]
solo (Gaelic football ) to drop the ball from hand to
foot and then kick it back into the hands; (motorcycle
racing) a single-seater motorcycle (as opposed
to one with a sidecar)
somersault ( general ) a complete turn of the body
head over heels on the ground or in the air; (gymnastics)
another term for a salto [Old French sombresaut,
from Provençal sobre, “over,” and saut,
“leap”]
Sons (association football ) nickname of the Scottish
club Dumbarton [from “Sons of the Rock,”
nickname of the inhabitants of Dumbarton, a
town dominated by a hill of basalt]
soop (curling) to assist the passage of a stone by
sweeping the ice in front of it as it travels over the
ice [Scots soop, “sweep”]
sophomore (horse racing) another term for a threeyear-
old
soup (surfing) another term for mush
souple (wrestling) a hold in which a wrestler holds
his opponent from behind and throws him in a
sweeping movement
southpaw (baseball ) a left-handed pitcher; (boxing)
a left-handed boxer, who leads with his
right hand [when right-handed batters faced
east to avoid the afternoon sun in their eyes,
pitchers faced west, but if left-handed would
throw with their south-side hand]
Southwell (horse racing) a flat and National Hunt
racecourse at Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, England.
SP (horse racing) abbreviation of starting price
Spa (auto racing) a town in eastern Belgium, whose
Spa-Francorchamps circuit is the venue for the
Belgian Grand Prix
spaceball (sport) a game of American origin played
by two or four players on a trampoline divided
into two courts by a gantry holding a funneled
basket, each court having a backstop below a
rebound net, the aim being to throw the ball
through the basket so that it scores by hitting
the court or the backstop
spade mashie ( golf ) the former name of a 6-iron
spaghetti-legs routine (association football ) a stagy
wobbling of the legs performed by a supposedly
fearful goalkeeper as a ruse to distract the taker
of a penalty kick
Spanish Grand Prix (auto racing) the Formula
One international Grand Prix held on the circuit
at Barcelona, Spain
Spanish walk (equestrianism) another term for the
piaffe
spanker (sailing) a fore-and-aft sail on the mast
nearest the stern of a boat
spar (boxing) to exchange light blows by way of
practice or demonstration; (sailing) a general
term for a boom, gaff, mast, or yard
spare (skittles, tenpin bowling) knocking down all
the pins with one’s first two balls [so that one has
a ball to spare]
spare ride (horse racing) a ride by a jockey on a
horse for which he has not been booked
sparring partner (boxing) a boxer chosen to spar
with another
spartakiad ( general ) a sporting competition with a
great number of participants in a wide range of
events [Russian spartakiada, after Spartacus, 1stcentury
B.C. leader of a slave revolt against Rome]
spear (American football ) to butt an opponent with
one’s helmet; (athletics) colloquial term for a
javelin; (ice hockey) to use one’s stick as a spear
to attack opponents
spear chucker (athletics) colloquial term for a
javelin thrower
spear tackle (rugby league, rugby union) an illegal
soccer match • spear 142
tackle in which a player is lifted up and thrown
down head first [like a spear]
Special Olympics (Olympics) a series of motivational
games for the physically and mentally disabled,
first held in the United States in 1968
special stage (auto racing) in rally driving, a timed
competitive section of the rally
special team (American football ) a group of players
used for kickoffs, punts, and other special
plays, as distinct from the regular offense and
defense
spectator sport ( general ) a sport that is exciting
and entertaining to watch as well as to play, such
as American football or hurling
speed and endurance (equestrianism) the second
day of a three-day event, consisting of a steeplechase,
a cross-country obstacle course, and
roads and tracks
speed bag (boxing) a small punchbag used for
practicing quick punches
speed riding (skiing) an extreme sport in which the
skier skis downhill until the wind inflates a wing
on his back, allowing him to fly over obstacles
speed skating (ice skating) a form of the sport in
which two or more skaters race on an oval track
speed walking (athletics) another term for race
walking
speedball (boxing) a type of small fast punchball;
(sport) a field game, played between teams of 11
players, that grew out of association football
and that resembles Gaelic football in that the
ball can be handled
speedway (motorcycle racing) a form of the sport
in which riders on bikes with fixed gears and
no brakes race several laps around an oval shale
track in a stadium
speleology (sport) a formal term for caving
spell (cricket) a number of overs bowled successively
by a particular bowler
spelunker (caving) colloquial term for a caver
[whose sport or pastime is speleology]
sphairistike (sport) the name under which lawn
tennis was patented in 1874 and by which it was
quite widely known for a time [Greek sphairistike
tekhne, “the art of playing ball”]
spider (billiards, snooker) a rest with wide arches
that can be placed over a ball without touching
it; (darts) the wire grid fixed to the front of a
dartboard that shows the score numbers
Spiders (association football ) nickname of the Scottish
club Queen’s Park [from the black and white
hoops on the team’s shirts, which suggest a spider’s
web]
spike (American football ) to throw the ball forcefully
to the ground, as when celebrating a touchdown;
(volleyball) a forceful downward hit of the
ball into the opposing team’s court
spikes (athletics) running shoes with spiked soles
spin ( general ) (1) a twisting motion imparted to a
ball, as by a spin bowler in cricket; (2) a rapid
rotation of the body, as in ice skating; (horse racing)
another term for a race
spin bowler (cricket) a slow bowler who imparts
spin to a ball by means of his wrist or fingers, so
that it deviates after pitching
spinach ( golf ) alternate term for cabbage
spinnaker (sailing) a three-cornered lightweight
sail, set forward of or opposite the mainmast
to increase sail area when running before the
wind
spinner (angling) an artificial fly that revolves
when pulled through the water; (cricket) (1) another
term for a spin bowler (2) a ball that has
had spin imparted to it
spinning (angling) fishing with a spinner
spinout (auto racing) a spinning skid that throws a
car off the road or track
spiral (American football ) a kick or pass that causes
a ball to spin around its long axis
Spireites (association football) nickname of the English
club Chesterfield [from the unusual twisted
spire of the town’s parish church]
spitball (baseball ) the swerving pitch of a ball
moistened with saliva or spit
SPL (association football ) abbreviation of Scottish
Premier League
splice (cricket) the wedge-shaped part of the handle
of a bat that fits into the blade
split (croquet) shortening of split shot; (general) the
time taken to complete a particular part of a
race; (horse racing) the widening gap between
two horses running side by side in a race that is
entered by a following rider; (tenpin bowling) a
leave situation in which the remaining pins are
widely spaced; (weightlifting) the action of
thrusting forward with one foot and back with
the other during a lift
split decision (boxing) a decision made by a majority
of the judges but not by all of them
split end (American football ) an offensive player
lined up a few yards from the end of the line of
scrimmage so that he can immediately run
downfield to catch passes
split-finger pitch (baseball ) another term for a
splitter
split jump (ice skating) a jump in which the legs are
briefly kicked out into the splits position
split roll (croquet) another term for a split shot
split shot (croquet) a stroke that drives two touching
balls in different directions
splits ( g ymnastics) the action of lowering the body
to the floor or a piece of apparatus with the legs
extended to either side or one forward and one
back
143 Special • splits
splitter (baseball ) a fastball thrown with fingers
apart, giving it a late downward movement
spoon (angling) an artificial bait in the form of the
bowl of a spoon, used in spinning or trolling;
(cricket) a weak hit which sends the ball high in
the air; ( golf ) an old-fashioned club with a
slightly hollowed face, corresponding to a 3-
wood; (surfing) the slight upward slope of a surfboard
spoonbait (angling) formal term for a spoon
sport fishing (angling) a name for the sport that
distinguishes it from commercial fishing
sport of kings (sport) a byname for horse racing
[a sport long patronized by royalty]
sportfish (angling) a fish caught for sport rather
than as food
sports car (auto racing) a specially designed highperformance
car built for highway driving
sports day ( general ) a meeting at a school or college
for contests in various sports
sports ground ( general ) an area with equipment
and facilities for sports
sports injury ( general ) an injury suffered as a result
of participation in a sport
sports medicine ( general ) the branch of medicine
concerned with the treatment of sports injuries
and the assessment and improvement of the
health of those involved in sport
sports writer ( general ) a person such as a reporter
or columnist who writes regularly on sport
sportscast ( general ) a broadcast about sport
sportscaster ( general ) (1) a presenter of sports programs
on radio or television; (2) a sports commentator
sportsman ( general ) a person who practices or is
skilled in sport
sportsmanship ( general ) the performance or practice
of a sportsman, especially one showing fairness
and good humor
sportsperson ( general ) a person of either sex who
practices or is skilled in sport
sportswoman ( general ) a woman who practices or
is skilled in sport
spot (billiards) (1) one of the three marked points on
the billiard table (billiard spot, center spot,
pyramid spot) on which the balls are placed at
certain stages in the game; (2) shortening of spot
white; (greyhound racing) one hundredth of a second
as a timing unit; (snooker) one of the six
marked points on the billiard table on which the
colors are placed at the start of a frame and to
which they are returned (so long as there are still
reds on the table) after being sent into a pocket
spot ball (billiards) another term for the spot white
spot-barred (billiards) bound to the rule that the
spot stroke may not be played more than twice
consecutively
spot kick (association football ) a kick made from the
penalty spot
spot stroke (billiards) a stroke by which a player
pots the red from the spot, leaving his own ball
in place to repeat the stroke
spot white (billiards) the white cue ball that has
two small black spots on it to differentiate it from
the plain ball
spotter (archery) a person appointed to identify the
score of an archer; (g ymnastics, trampolining) a
person stationed to prevent a possible accident
spray deck (canoeing) a waterproof cockpit cover
worn around the waist by a kayaker and attached
to the coaming to prevent water entering
the kayak
spray skirt (canoeing) another term for a spray
deck
spread ( general ) a term used in betting for the
number of points or goals by which a stronger
team may be expected to beat a weaker team in
a match
spread a plate (horse racing) to lose a shoe or plate
during (or before) a race
spreadeagle (ice skating) a maneuver performed on
the outside edges or inside edges of both skates
in which the skates point in opposite directions;
(skiing) an aerial maneuver in which the skier
extends his arms and legs to the side while keeping
the skis parallel and perpendicular to his
body
spring double (horse racing) a bet on the Lincoln
Handicap and Grand National, both races run
in the spring
springboard ( g ymnastics) a flexible board used by
a gymnast to take off when executing a vault;
(swimming) a flexible diving board
Springboks (rugby union) nickname of the South
African national team [from the agile antelope
native to South Africa that is the team’s emblem]
springer (horse racing) a horse on which the betting
odds suddenly shorten
sprint (athletics) a 100 meters, 200 meters, or 400
meters race; (cycling) a track race ridden over
1km by individuals against one or two opponents;
( general ) (1) a short spell or burst of forward
motion, as in running, rowing, or cycling;
(2) a short race; (horse racing) a short race of five
or six furlongs on the flat
sprint car (auto racing) a fast racecar used for racing
over short distances
sprint hurdles (athletics) the 100-meter hurdles
or 110-meter hurdles
sprinter (cycling) a cyclist whose specialty is the
sprint
sprinters’ lane (cycling) the inner lane of a track in
a velodrome, between the pole line and the
sprinters’ line
splitter • sprinters’ lane 144
sprinters’ line (cycling) the red line on a track in a
velodrome, between the stayers’ line and the
pole line, used by riders to overtake the lead
rider
sprit (sailing) a spar set diagonally to extend a foreand-
aft sail
Spurs (association football ) short name of the English
club Tottenham Hotspur; (basketball) short
name of the San Antonio Spurs team
spurt (general) a sudden increase of speed or energy,
as in a sprint
squad ( general ) (1) a group of players trained in
readiness to form a team; (2) the team itself
squad number (association football ) the number
on a player’s shirt that identifies him and that
originally indicated his playing position
square (association football ) in a line across the
pitch at right angles to the direction of play;
(cricket) (1) the close-cut, rectangular area in the
center of the ground on which the wickets are
prepared; (2) at right angles to the wicket
square cut (cricket) a cut hit square on the off side
square drive (cricket) a drive hit square on the off
side
square hit (cricket) a hit to square leg
square leg (cricket) a fielding position on the leg
side in a line with the popping crease
square leg umpire (cricket) the umpire at square
leg, who answers appeals for run out and
stumped, as against the umpire who stands behind
the wicket of the bowler
square-rigged (sailing) with square sails placed at
right angles to the length of the boat
square-rigger (sailing) a square-rigged boat
squash (sport) a game played by two or four players
with a small rubber ball that is struck with a
racket against the walls of an enclosed court [the
ball squashes on impact]
squash rackets (sport) the formal name of squash
squash tennis (sport) a game for two players similar
to squash but played with an inflated ball
and larger rackets
squat ( g ymnastics) shortening of squat thrust;
(weightlifting) a lift in which the competitor
squats with a barbell across his shoulders then
rises again
squat rack (weightlifting) a pair of posts with a
support that holds a barbell at a convenient
height for a squat
squat thrust ( g ymnastics) a move in which the
gymnast thrusts his legs back to their full extent
from a squatting position while supporting his
weight on his hands
squatter (cricket) another term for a shooter
squeaker ( general ) colloquial term for a game won
by a very narrow margin
squeeze (baseball ) shortening of squeeze play
squeeze play (baseball ) a tactic in which a batter
uses a bunt so that a runner at third base can
attempt to reach home plate safely
squib (American football ) a kickoff with a short
kick
squid (octopush) the circular lead disk used as a
puck in the game
st (cricket) abbreviation of stumped in scoring
stab (billiards, snooker) a short sharp stroke that
makes the ball stop dead or travel slowly after
making contact with the object ball
stab stroke (billiards, snooker) fuller term for a stab
stabilizer (archery) a device attached to the bow to
increase stability during a shot
stable (horse racing) (1) an establishment where
racehorses are kept and trained; (2) the horses
belonging to a single trainer; (sumo) an establishment
in which a group of wrestlers live and receive
training
stable lad (horse racing) a man or boy employed to
look after horses at a stable, one of his jobs at the
racecourse being to lead a horse around the parade
ring
stable lass (horse racing) a woman or girl employed
to look after horses at a stable
Stableford (golf ) a competition in which points are
awarded for scores achieved on each hole, the
player’s handicap and the stroke index being
used to help calculate the points [named for its
inventor in 1931, English physician Frank Stableford
(1870–1959)]
stablemate (horse racing) a horse from the same
stable as another
Stade (rugby union) short name of the French club
Stade Français [French stade, “stadium”]
stadium ( general ) a sports ground or arena with
rows of seats or stands for spectators [Latin stadium,
“racecourse,” from Greek stadion, “running
track for foot races,” originally a unit of
length in ancient Greece equivalent to 6063/4ft
(184m), the most noted track or course at
Olympia being of this length]
Stadium of Light (association football ) (1) the stadium
of the English club Sunderland, built in
1997 [named from the lamps formerly worn by
local miners]; (2) English name of the Estádio da
Luz, the stadium of the Portuguese club Benfica,
Lisbon, built in 1954 [translated as if “stadium of
light” but really named for its location in the
suburb of Luz]
stag leap (ice skating) a leaping jump performed
with the leading leg tucked under the body and
the trailing leg kicked out straight behind
stage ( general) one of the timed sections into which
a long-distance race or rally is divided
stage race (cycling) a race in stages, usually as a series
of road races ridden on successive days
145 sprinters’ line • stage race
stage rally (auto racing) in rally driving, a rally
in stages, usually ridden over several days
staggered start (athletics) the start to a race in
which the athletes are spaced at intervals along
the track to compensate for the curve of the
bend; ( general ) a race in which competitors
leave the start at timed intervals
Stags (association football ) nickname of the English
club Mansfield Town [apparently from the animal
on the town’s former coat of arms, denoting
its proximity to Sherwood Forest]
stake (horse racing) the money wagered on a bet
stake and rider fence (horse racing) a fence made
of stakes with a top bar
stake boat (rowing, sailing) a boat anchored to
mark the start or course of a race
stakes (greyhound racing, horse racing) (1) money
staked or contributed as a prize in a race; (2)
the race itself
Stalder ( g ymnastics) in the horizontal bar and
asymmetric bars, a 360-degree swing around
the bar in a straddle pike position [first performed
by the Swiss gymnast Josef Stalder]
stallion (horse racing) a male horse kept for breeding
Stallions (Canadian football ) short name of the
Baltimore Stallions team
stalls (horse racing) shortening of starting stalls
Stamford Bridge (association football ) the home
ground of Chelsea football club, London
Stampeders (Canadian football ) short name of the
Calgary Stampeders team
stance (boxing) the position adopted by a boxer in
readiness to land or receive punches; (cricket)
the position adopted by a batsman in front of the
wicket as he holds his bat in readiness for a ball
from the bowler; ( golf ) the position of a player’s
feet when making a stroke
stand (cricket) another term for a partnership;
( general ) a raised structure with sitting or standing
accommodation for spectators at a match or
on a racecourse
stand down ( general ) to withdraw from a game,
match, or race
stand still (cycling) to stop altogether in a sprint as
a tactical maneuver to avoid taking the lead before
the climax of the race
stand-up (boxing) a fight in which the contestants
stand up fairly to each other without any special
moves or maneuvers
standard (horse racing) a category of going
standardbred (horse racing) a breed of horse developed
as trotters and pacers in harness racing
[they are bred to attain a minimum standard
speed]
standing ( general ) a current ranking in a grade
scale
standing count (boxing) a count of eight taken by
a boxer who although not knocked down appears
unable to continue fighting
standing shot (handball ) a shot taken from a stationary
position
standoff (rugby league, rugby union) shortening of
standoff half; (rugby union) another term for a
fly half
standoff half (rugby league, rugby union) a back
who stands next to the scrum half and links play
with the three-quarters
stands ( general ) another term for a stand, especially
where extensive or arranged in sections
Stanley Cup (ice hockey) the cup awarded annually
since 1893 to the winner of the world professional
championships [donated by Frederick
Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston
(1841–1908), governor general of Canada]
stanza ( general ) a half or other period of a game
Star (sailing) a class of double-handed keelboat
star drag (angling) an adjustable tension device in
a reel [so called for its star-shaped nut]
star jump ( g ymnastics) a jump in which the arms
and legs are thrust out to give a star shape
starboard (sailing) the right side of a boat when
facing forward
Stars (ice hockey) short name of the Dallas Stars
team
start ( general ) (1) the beginning of a sporting contest;
(2) the point where a race begins
start hut (skiing) the small building from which
skiers start in a downhill race or slalom
start straight (auto racing) the straight section of
track where the grid is and where races start
starter (baseball ) shortening of starting pitcher;
( general) (1) the official who gives the signal for
the start of a race or other contest; (2) one of
the competitors assembled for the start of a race;
( golf ) a member of the pro shop staff who marshals
the players starting the first hole; (horse racing)
one of the horses assembled for the start of
a race
starting block (athletics) a device for helping a
sprinter make a quick start to a race, in the
form of a framework with wood or metal blocks
attached, on which the sprinter braces his feet;
(cycling) a device that holds the rear wheel of a
bicycle at the start of track race, releasing the
wheel when the start is signaled
starting box (greyhound racing) the boxlike stall
from which a greyhound is released at the beginning
of a race
starting gate (horse racing) the mechanical barrier
behind which the horses are held in their stalls
before the start of a race and which opens to release
them simultaneously; (motorcycle racing) in
motocross, the board across the starting area
stage rally • starting gate 146
that drops down to start the race; (skiing) the
point from which skiers start their run in downhill
racing
starting grid (auto racing) fuller term for a grid
starting gun ( general ) another term for a starting
pistol
starting line ( general ) a line marking the start of
a race
starting pistol ( general ) a small pistol used to give
the signal for the start of a race
starting pitcher (baseball ) the pitcher who initiates
play in a game
starting post ( general ) a post marking the starting
point of a race
starting price (horse racing) the odds on a horse at
the start of a race
starting signal ( general ) the signal given to competitors
to begin a race
starting stalls (horse racing) the stalls with starting
gates in which the horses are held before the
start of a race
startline ( general ) another term for a starting line
State of Origin series (rugby league) a series of annual
matches played since 1980 between the
Australian states of Queensland and New South
Wales
station (rowing) the position on one or other side
of a river occupied by the crew of an eight at the
start of a boat race [the crews in the Boat Race
start from the Middlesex station and Surrey station,
named for their historic counties on the respective
north and south banks of the Thames
River]
Statue of Liberty (American football ) a play in
which the quarterback holds the ball up as if
to throw it while a back circles behind to take it
from him and then attempt to advance it by
rushing
stay all day (horse racing) to consistently maintain
speed and stamina in a race
stay on (horse racing) of a racehorse, to give of its
best toward the end of a race
stayer (horse racing) a horse that does not tire as
quickly as others in a race
stayers’ line (cycling) the blue outermost line on
a track in a velodrome used by riders in a
madison to ease up and ride slowly between efforts
steady (cricket) (of ) a batsman who is reliable and
does not take risks
steal (baseball ) to gain a base without the help of
a hit or error by running to it without being
tagged out; (basketball) to take possession of
the ball from an opponent; ( golf ) to play a long
putt with a delicate stroke that sends the ball
into the hole
steamer (horse racing) a horse whose odds shorten
rapidly because a large sum of money has been
unexpectedly staked on it
steamy ( golf ) a short shot or putt that passes over
or through the green
Steelers (American football ) short name of the
Pittsburgh Steelers team
Steelmen (association football ) nickname of the
Scottish club Motherwell [from the town’s former
noted steel industry]
steeplechase (athletics) (1) another term for crosscountry
running; (2) a 3,000-meter track race
with obstacles in the form of hurdles and water
jumps; (equestrianism) a phase of the speed and
endurance section of the three-day event in
which riders clear low fences along a turf track;
(horse racing) a race with obstacles to be jumped
[originally a race on horseback across country
with a visible church steeple as the goal]
steeplechaser (horse racing) a horse trained for steeplechases
steepler (cricket) a lofty hit by the batsman, often
providing an easy catch
steer-wrestling (rodeo) an event in which a competitor
drops from horseback onto the horns of
a galloping steer and throws it to the ground
stem (darts) another term for the shaft; (sailing)
the curved timber at the bow of a boat
stem turn (skiing) a turn performed by stemming
with one ski and then placing the other parallel
with it
stemming (skiing) the act of moving the tail of one
or both skis outward in order to turn
step (athletics) the second phase of the triple jump;
(fives) in Eton fives, the shallow step that divides
the court into an inner and outer part
step up (horse racing) a “promotion” to a race with
a greater distance
stepover (association football ) a move in which a
player aims to throw an opponent off balance by
stepping over the ball without actually kicking
it
stepover turn (water skiing) a maneuver executed
on one or two skis in which the skier lifts a ski
over the tow rope while executing a 180-degree
turn
stern (rowing, sailing) the rear part of a boat
steward (auto racing) a senior official who makes
decisions about the running of a race, including
the awarding of penalties; (horse racing) an
official who supervises arrangements on a racecourse
and sees that the rules of the sport are
upheld
Stewards’ Challenge Cup (rowing) the cup
awarded to the winner of a race for coxless fours
at Henley Royal Regatta, inaugurated in 1841
Stewards’ Cup (horse racing) a famous annual
sprint at Goodwood
147 starting grid • Stewards’
stewards’ inquiry (horse racing) an investigation
by stewards into the conduct of a race in cases
where a contravention of the rules is suspected,
the result being signaled by the hoisting of flags
on the racecourse
stick (athletics) colloquial term for the baton in a
relay race; ( general ) (1) the implement with
which the ball is struck in field hockey, ice
hockey, and rounders; (2) the implement with
which the ball is struck in some regional or improvised
games such as trapball and knur and
spell; (g ymnastics) to make a perfect landing,
without any movement of the feet; (polo) another
term for a mallet; (skiing) shortening of
ski stick; (surfing) colloquial term for a surfboard
stick up (cricket) to put a batsman on the defensive
stickball (sport) a form of baseball or lacrosse
adapted to playing in a small area, often with a
makeshift stick and nonstandard ball
sticker (cricket) a batsman who plays slowly and
carefully and who is hard to dismiss
stickhandling ( general ) the controlling of a ball
or puck in a game played with a stick
stickout ( general ) colloquial term for an excellent
sports player or performer
sticks (association football ) colloquial term for the
goalposts; (cricket) colloquial term for the
wicket (with its three stumps); (field hockey) a
foul committed by raising the stick above the
shoulder when swinging it back to play the ball;
(horse racing) the hurdles in a steeplechase
stickwork ( general ) another term for stickhandling
sticky dog (cricket) another term for a sticky
wicket
sticky wicket (cricket) a wicket made soft and
sticky by rain [a condition less common than
formerly thanks to the use of covers]
stiff ( general ) a competitor who is sure to fail;
( golf ) another term for stone dead; (horse racing)
a horse that is certain not to win
stiff-arm (American football, rugby league, rugby
union) to fend off an opponent with the arm
straight
stiff track (horse racing) a physically demanding
course, as one with a long home straight or an
uphill finish, as at Cheltenham
still-ball game ( general ) a game such as golf or
snooker in which the ball is always still when
being played
stimpmeter ( golf ) a device that measures the speed
of a green by rolling a golf ball down a ramp at
a standard initial velocity and measuring how
far it travels [named for its U.S. inventor, Edward
Stimpson (died 1985)]
stock bowler (cricket) a dependable but unenterprising
bowler
stockcar (auto racing) a car with a basically standard
chassis that has been specially modified and
strengthened for use in stockcar racing
stockcar racing (auto racing) a race between stockcars
in which the cars are often damaged and
even destroyed in collisions
stocker (auto racing) colloquial term for a stockcar
or its driver
stomach roll (athletics) a form of high jump in
which the athlete clears the bar stomach down
stone (curling) the heavy smooth stone with a handle
at the top that players send over the ice
stone dead ( golf ) (of ) a ball that is so near the
hole that a putt seems a mere formality
stonewall (cricket) to bat extremely defensively
stonewaller (cricket) a batsman who stonewalls
stoolball (sport) a game resembling cricket, now
played mainly by children, in which a hard ball
is bowled underarm at a wicket defended by a
player with a bat
Stoop (rugby union) the home ground of the game
at Twickenham [in full Stoop Memorial
Ground, named commemoratively for Adrian
Stoop, an England back]
stoopball (sport) a game resembling baseball, in
which the ball is thrown against a stoop (a set of
steps leading to the front door of a house) instead
of to a batter
stop (boxing) (1) a guard or attack that prevents a
punch from landing on its mark; (2) to defeat an
opponent with a knockout; (cricket) shortening
of longstop; (horse racing) to slow down (but
not actually stop) in a race
stop-go penalty (auto racing) a penalty imposed
for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane,
obliging the driver to return to the lane and remain
stationary for a stated period of time (10
seconds in Formula One) before rejoining the
race
stop hit ( fencing) a thrust made at the precise moment
the opponent prepares for his own thrust
stop shot (croquet) a croquet shot that sends the
croqueted ball as far as possible in relation to
the striker’s ball
stop thrust ( fencing) another term for a stop hit
stop volley (tennis) a blocked volley, played close
to the net, causing the ball to drop dead on the
other side
stoppage time (association football ) time added on
to the regulation time (90 minutes) for a game
to make up for time lost through injury or other
interruptions
stopper (association football ) a defender noted for
his ability to block attacks on goal; (baseball )
(1) a pitching ace relied on to win a game or restewards’
inquiry • stopper 148
verse a losing streak; (2) a relief pitcher who
prevents the opposing team from scoring highly
Stow (association football ) short name of the English
club Walthamstow
straddle (archery, shooting) a combination of one
shot beyond the mark and one short of it; (athletics)
a style of high jump in which the athlete
clears the bar horizontally and face down, with
his legs straddled either side; ( g ymnastics) a position
with the legs spread far apart to the side,
as assumed in a vault or when dismounting from
apparatus
straight ( general ) a straight section of a track or
course
straight-arm (rugby league, rugby union) (of ) a
tackle with the arms extended straight
straight bat (cricket) a bat held so as not to deviate
to either side
straight bet (horse racing) a bet that backs a horse
to win
straight drive (cricket) a drive in which the batsman
hits the ball back down the pitch toward
(or past) the bowler
straight games (tennis) a series of games won in
succession
straight pool (pool) a variant of eight-ball pool in
which any object ball can be pocketed in any
order
straight red (association football ) a red card shown
to a player for a serious offense, entitling the referee
to send off the offender immediately
straight sets (tennis) a run of sets won in succession
straight tip (horse racing) a tip for a bet that comes
straight from an owner or trainer
straightaway (auto racing, horse racing) another
term for a straight
strangle (horse racing) to hold back a horse from
winning by pulling hard on the reins
stranglehold (judo, wrestling) another term for a
choke hold
Stratford-on-Avon (horse racing) a National Hunt
racecourse at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire,
England
strawweight (boxing) the professional weight category
of under 48kg (105lb)
streaker ( general ) a spectator who runs naked
across the pitch during a match
streamer (angling) an artificial fly with feathers
attached, resembling a small fish
street circuit (auto racing) a circuit laid out with
temporary walls for a street race
street hockey (roller skating) a type of field hockey
played on roller skates, originally in the street
street race (auto racing) a race with a circuit over
the streets of a city, rather than on a special
track, as for the European Grand Prix in Valencia,
Spain, or the Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore
stretch (baseball ) a pitching stance that is more
upright than a wind-up, used when a baserunner
is likely to steal a base; ( general ) another
term for a straight [the words straight and stretch
are related in origin]
stretcher (rowing) an adjustable support for the
feet of the rowers; (wrestling) a bout with no
rounds, timeouts, or breaks for injury [it ends
when one of the contestants leaves the ring on a
stretcher]
stride (horse racing) (1) an act of forward movement
by a horse, completed when its feet have returned
to their original position; (2) a horse’s
regular movement in a race
strike (American football ) a forward pass straight
to a receiver; (angling) a sudden jerk of the line
to impale the hook in the mouth of a fish; (association
football ) another term for a shot; (baseball
) (1) a ball thrown by the pitcher into the
strike zone; (2) a ball at which the batter swings
and misses; (cricket) the position of a batsman
ready to receive the next ball from the bowler;
(rugby league, rugby union) an attempt to hook
the ball from the scrum; (tenpin bowling) the
knocking down of all of the pins with the first
ball bowled
strike out (baseball ) to dismiss or be dismissed
from a game by means of three strikes
strike zone (baseball ) the area above home plate
extending from the knees of the batter to the
middle of his torso, as a target for the pitcher
to aim at
striker (association football ) an attacking player
whose main role is to score goals; (cricket) the
batsman facing the bowling; ( general ) a player
who hits the ball
striker’s ball (croquet) the ball played at the start
of a turn
striking circle (field hockey) another term for the
shooting circle
string (archery) the cord of a bow; (billiards) (1)
the beads hung on a wire that serve to keep the
score; (2) to decide the order of play by striking
the cue ball from balk to rebound off the top
cushion, the first stroke going to the player
whose ball comes to rest nearer the bottom cushion;
(horse racing) (1) the horses belonging to a
particular yard or stable; (2) a single file of
horses led out for morning exercise
strip (cricket) colloquial term for the pitch; ( general
) (1) to take off one’s normal clothing in
preparation for a contest; (2) the distinctive
clothing worn by members of a sports team, typically
in the colors of their club
strip fitter (horse racing) to be revealed as a horse
149 Stow • strip fitter
in good physical shape when its blankets are
taken off just before a race
stripe ball (pool) a ball with a broad colored stripe
and a number on it
stroke ( general ) to hit or kick the ball smoothly
and carefully; ( golf ) a hit of the ball that serves
as a unit of scoring; (rowing) (1) the complete
single movement of the oars in and out of the
water; (2) the rower who sits nearest the stern
of the boat and whose stroke sets the time for
the rest of the rowers; (squash) a point awarded
to a player who has been deliberately obstructed;
(swimming) a particular set of movements of the
arms and legs, appropriate for the position of the
body, that propel a swimmer through the water
stroke index ( golf ) a measure of the relative
difficulty of the holes on a course
stroke oar (rowing) fuller term for the stroke
strokeless (cricket) unable to play strokes freely
because of the style of bowling
strokemaker (cricket) a batsman who plays wellexecuted,
attacking strokes
strokeplay (cricket, tennis) the playing of a range of
well-executed strokes; ( golf ) a method of scoring
by counting the number of strokes played
rather than the number of holes won
strokeside (rowing) the right side of the boat as
viewed by the rowers
stroll (baseball ) another term for a base on balls;
( general ) another term for a walkover
strong safety (American football ) a defensive back
positioned opposite the strong side that usually
covers the tight end
strong side (American football ) the side of a standard
offensive formation on which the tight end
lines up
stud (horse racing) (1) a male horse used for breeding;
(2) a horse-breeding establishment
studbook (horse racing) a record of horses’ pedigrees
stuff (basketball) to throw or slam the ball down
through the basket
stump (cricket) (1) one of the three small posts
which, together with the bails, form the wicket;
(2) as a wicketkeeper, to dismiss a batsman who
is out of his ground by dislodging a bail or by
knocking down a stump while holding the ball
stumped (cricket) dismissed from a game because
stumped by the wicketkeeper
stumps (cricket) (1) another term for the wicket;
(2) the end of a game, when it is time to draw
stumps
stun (snooker) to check the forward momentum of
the cue ball by imparting a small amount of
backspin to it
stun and be gone (boxing) another term for punch
and retreat
style jumping (parachuting) a jump in which a series
of predetermined maneuvers are carried out
while in free fall
stymie ( golf ) a situation on the green in which an
opponent’s ball blocks the way to the hole (an
impasse overcome by a rule of 1951 which allowed
the obstructed ball to be lifted and its position
marked) [origin obscure]
sub ( general ) colloquial shortening of substitute
subaqua (aquatics) the sport or recreation of underwater
swimming or diving using an aqualung
or similar apparatus
submission (wrestling) the surrender of a competitor
to a hold
subsidiary goal (polo) a goal scored by sending the
ball into a space to the side of each goalpost
substitute ( general ) a player who replaces a teammate
during a match, either as a tactical move or
as the result of injury or sickness
subway alumni (American football ) city-dwelling
supporters of a college football team who are
not graduates (alumni) of the college in question
sucker ( golf ) a ball embedded in mud which can
be lifted without penalty
sucker punch (boxing) a punch that takes advantage
of an opponent’s momentary lack of concentration
sudden death ( general ) (1) an extra period of play
to settle a tie, ending when one of the competitors
scores; (2) a game or match shortened from
its usual duration by a time limit
Sugar Bowl (American football ) a postseason college
football contest held annually (from 1935)
at New Orleans, Louisiana, where it was conceived
in 1927
sugarbag (wrestling) to toss an opponent onto the
canvas [as if he were a bag of sugar]
suicide squad (American football ) the team who
defend the player who took the kickoff [so called
as subjecting themselves to a continuing onslaught
from their opponents]
suicide squeeze (baseball ) a tactical maneuver in
which a baserunner at third base begins to run
toward home plate as soon as the pitcher begins
to throw the ball
sulky (horse racing) a light two-wheeled vehicle
used in harness racing
sumi-gaeshi (judo) a move in which one of the
contestants falls to the mat and throws his opponent
over his left shoulder [Japanese sumi, “corner,”
and kaeshi, “overturning”]
Summer Eights (rowing) another name for Eights
Week
Summer Olympics (Olympics) a name sometimes
used for the main Olympic Games to distinguish
them from the Winter Olympics
stripe ball • Summer 150
sumo (sport) a Japanese form of wrestling in which
the aim is to force an opponent out of the ring
or force him to touch the ground within it with
any part of the body other than the soles of the
feet [Japanese sumo]
sumo wrestling (sport) fuller name of sumo
sumotori (sumo) another term for a rikishi [combination
of sumo and tori]
Sunday League (cricket) the name of the Pro40
League until 2007
Suns (basketball) short name of the Phoenix Suns
team
super bantamweight (boxing) the professional
weight category of maximum 55kg (122lb)
Super Bowl (American football ) the annual championship
of the National Football League,
played since 1976 between the respective champions
of the National Football Conference and
American Football Conference
super featherweight (boxing) the professional
weight category of maximum 69kg (130lb)
super flyweight (boxing) the professional weight
category of maximum 52kg (115lb)
Super 14 (rugby union) a competition established in
1996 for the 14 (originally 12) leading state and
provincial teams in Australia, New Zealand, and
South Africa
super G (skiing) an event combining downhill and
giant slalom [G for giant (slalom)]
super heavyweight (boxing) the amateur weight
category of above 91kg (201lb)
Super League (rugby league) an annual competition
held since 1996 between the top six teams in
the league
super lightweight (boxing) the professional weight
category of maximum 63.5kg (140lb)
super middleweight (boxing) the professional
weight category of maximum 76kg (168lb)
super over (cricket) an extra over added to settle
the score after a match ends in a tie
Super Saturday ( general ) nickname for a key contest
held on a Saturday, as the men’s semifinals
in the U.S. Open on Saturday, September 12,
2009, the day before the finals
super special stage (auto racing) in rally driving,
a short special stage with two parallel tracks
Super Sunday ( general ) nickname for a key contest
held on a Sunday, as on Sunday, November
29, 2009, when in association football there
was a double header in two Premier League
derbies: Arsenal v. Chelsea and Everton v. Liverpool
super welterweight (boxing) the professional
weight category of maximum 70kg (154lb)
superbike (motorcycle racing) a 750cc four-cylinder
or 1,000cc twin-cylinder motorcycle
supercross (motorcycle racing) the racing of motocross
bikes in a stadium on a temporary dirt
or sand track with obstacles such as jumps
superfecta (horse racing) a bet in which the bettor
must select the first four horses to finish in the
correct order [blend of super- and perfecta]
supermoto (motorcycle racing) the racing of solo
motorcycles or quad bikes on a part surfaced,
part natural circuit with obstacles such as jumps
superpipe (snowboarding) a large half-pipe
Supersonics (basketball) short name of the Seattle
Supersonics team
superspeedway (auto racing) in NASCAR and
Indy racing, a track over a mile long
supersub (association football ) a player who often
scores as a substitute [shortening of supersubstitute]
suplex (wrestling) a hold in which the opponent is
grasped around the waist from behind and
thrown [apparently Latin supplex, “supplicant”]
supplement (horse racing) to pay a supplementary
fee
supplementary fee (horse racing) a (high) fee paid on
top of an entry fee to enter a horse late in a race
supporter ( general ) a person who maintains a loyal
interest in the fortunes of a club and who regularly
attends their matches, in many cases wearing
their colors
surf (surfing) shortening of surf riding
surf bum (surfing) an enthusiast who frequents
beaches suitable for the sport
surf canoe (surfing) a canoe or kayak used for the
sport
surf riding (sport) an older term for surfing
surface fishing (angling) a method of fishing that
involves a cast of bait (rather than an artificial
fly) that floats on the surface of the water
surfboard (surfing) the long narrow board used in
the sport
surfer (surfing) (1) a person who participates in the
sport; (2) shortening of windsurfer
surfie (surfing) a young unemployed person who
spends a lot of time engaged in the sport
surfing (sport) the sport or recreation of riding
breaking waves on a surfboard
Surlyn ( golf ) proprietary name of a tough thermoplastic
resin used to cover golf balls
suspension ( general ) the temporary barring of a
player from a game
sutemi-waza (judo) the technique of throwing
from a lying position [Japanese sute-mi, “selfabandonment,”
and waza, “art,” referring to the
thrower’s sacrifice of an upright posture]
swallow dive (swimming) a dive made with the
arms outstretched to the sides [like the wings of
a swallow]
swan dive (swimming) another term for a swallow
dive [with arms like the wings of a swan]
151 sumo • swan
Swans (association football ) short name of the
Welsh club Swansea City; (Australian Rules)
short name of the Sydney Swans team
Swaythling Cup (table tennis) the cup awarded
since 1926 to the winner of the world men’s team
championship [presented by Lady Swaythling,
later president of the English Table Tennis Association]
sweat (horse racing) a training run given to a horse
before a race
sweat serve (table tennis) an illegal serve in which
the ball has been deliberately coated in sweat by
the server, making it difficult to return
sweatband (tennis) an absorbent wristlet worn to
prevent sweat running down to a player’s hands
Swedish fall ( g ymnastics) a move in floor exercises
in which the gymnast drops straight to the
ground, his hands shooting out for support at
the last moment
sweep (cricket) a stroke in which the batsman goes
down on one knee to play the ball to the leg
side with a horizontal bat; ( general) victory in all
of the games in a contest by a team or competitor
sweep rowing (rowing) rowing with only one oar,
worked with both hands
sweeper (association football ) a player who plays
behind the defenders but who does not mark
any opponent [he “sweeps up” any problems if
the line of defenders is breached]; (cricket) a
fielder positioned on the boundary in front of
square to stop balls hit through the infield; (cycling,
motorcycle racing) the negotiation of a bend
or turn with a controlled sideways skid of the
rear wheel
sweepstake (horse racing) a race in which the competitors’
stakes are taken by the winner or winners
sweet science (sport) a byname for boxing
sweet spot (cricket) the area on the face of the bat
where the ball bowled by the bowler should ideally
make contact for a good stroke; ( golf ) the
spot on the clubface where the ball should ideally
make contact for best effect and control;
(tennis) the point on the face of a racket where
the ball should ideally make contact for a good
return
swerve (baseball ) a ball that deviates in flight from
the spin imparted to it by the pitcher; (cricket)
a ball that deviates in flight from the spin imparted
to it by the bowler
swim (angling) a stretch of river fished by a particular
angler
swim the stream (angling) to send bait along the
course of a swim by means of float tackle
swimathon (swimming) a long-distance swimming
race
swimmer (swimming) a person who takes part in
swimming or diving
swimming (sport) the competitive sport or leisure
activity of propelling one’s body through the
water, which may be entered by a dive
swimming pool (swimming) an indoor or outdoor
pool designed for swimming
swimpool (swimming) another term for a swimming
pool
swing (boxing) a punch made with a sweep of the
arm; (cricket) a curving deviation of the ball in
its path through the air after its delivery by the
bowler; ( golf ) the curving path of a golf club as
a player makes a stroke, first moving up and
back from the ball then down and through to
strike it; ( g ymnastics) a rotation of the body on
a piece of apparatus such as the asymmetric
bars, horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel
horse, or rings
swing bowler (cricket) a bowler who imparts a
swing to the ball
swing pass (American football ) a short pass to a
back running to the outside
swinger (cricket) a ball from the bowler that travels
with a swing
swingman ( general ) a versatile player, who can
play in different positions
swingtime (trampolining) a movement performed
immediately after another, with no free bounce
in between
swish (basketball) a shot that drops the ball cleanly
into the basket; (cricket) colloquial term for a
careless attacking stroke
Swiss ball ( general ) a large inflatable plastic ball
used in fitness exercises
switch (horse racing) to race a horse under the name
of another horse
switch hitter (baseball, cricket) a player who can
bat equally well right-handed or left-handed
switchfoot (surfing) a surfer who can ride the
board with either foot forward
swivel (angling) a device that prevents rotary action
of the bait in the water from twisting or
kinking of the line
swivel hips (trampolining) a seat drop followed by
a half twist into another seat drop
SW19 (tennis) a byname of the courts at Wimbledon
[the local London postcode]
swordplay (sport) another term for fencing
synchro (swimming) shortening of synchronized
swimming
synchronized diving (swimming) an event in
which divers perform side by side
synchronized skating (ice skating) a discipline in
which teams of skaters perform routines in formation
synchronized swimming (swimming) a form of
Swans • synchronized 152
the sport in which groups of swimmers carry
out gymnastic and balletic routines to music
syndicate (horse racing) a group of people who own
a racehorse