catcher's mask
1
3.4
- noun
- /ˈkæʧərz mæsk/
- US
:
máscara de receptor
- As he prepared to step onto the field, he made sure to securely fit his catcher's mask for safety.
- wear a catcher's mask
Examples
-
Look at him: While defending me, he wore a catcher's mask to protect his glasses; he was 20/200, which meant legally blind.
Fiction book (2001) -
During the game, the catcher adjusted his catcher's mask to protect his face from any wild pitches.
-
The young player was excited to wear a catcher's mask, ready to catch the pitcher's throws during practice.
Synonyms
659
1.0
A covering worn on the face to hide, protect, or decorate it
2
1.8
A protective covering worn over the face in sports to prevent injury
A strong wire mask a baseball catcher wears to protect the face
A protective face guard made of metal bars used by the catcher in baseball or softball
How Protective
Surface Forms
Morphology
catcher's + mask
The meaning 'a mask worn by the catcher' is directly and compositionally derived from 'catcher' (the player who catches) + 'mask' (a face covering/protection). The possessive construction makes the relationship explicit, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning with minimal sport-specific knowledge.
Etymology
Catcher's mask comes from the simple picture of a catcher, the player behind the batter, wearing a mask to keep fast balls from hurting their face. That's why it means 'a protective mask worn by the catcher'.