sport terms dictionary T2 class

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the foot firm, now generally superseded by clipless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