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spitballer

spitballer

9.9
A pitcher who illegally wets the ball to make it move oddly
  • noun
  • /ˈspɪtˌbɔlər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lanzador de spitballs
  • After being caught as a spitballer, he was suspended from the league.

Examples

  • Many fans admired the skill of the old-time spitballer despite the controversy.

  • The legendary spitballer baffled hitters with his unpredictable pitches.

  • The spitballer surprised everyone with his unusual pitching style.

  • Many fans dislike a spitballer for his illegal tactics.

  • The veteran spitballer baffled the opposing team with his tricky pitches during the game.

  • Many fans were excited to see the famous spitballer pitch at the historic baseball stadium.

  • Despite being a controversial spitballer, he managed to secure a place in the Hall of Fame.

Synonyms

pitcher
vsspitballer
198 2.7

A player in baseball who throws the ball to the batter

is the general throwing role that involves applying substances to the ball illegally
baseball player
vsspitballer
72 1.4

A person who plays baseball for a team or as a job

is the specific throwing role that applies saliva or other substances illegally
ballplayer
vsspitballer
  • US
54 3.0

A person who plays baseball, often as a professional

is the narrow baseball throwing role that illegally uses saliva or other substances
hurler
vsspitballer
  • Jargon
1 8.2

A baseball player who throws the ball to the batter

is a throwing role that adds saliva or other substances to the ball illegally
chucker
vsspitballer
  • Jargon
1 7.8

A person who throws a ball, like a pitcher

is the same role but applies saliva or other substances illegally

Surface Forms

spitballer singular
spitballers plural

Morphology

spitballer = spitball (semi-transparent) = spit + ball + er

The agentive suffix '-er' is straightforward, but the base 'spitball' is a specialized baseball term, so the full meaning is not completely predictable for most learners.

Etymology

Spitballer comes from the baseball pitch called a spitball, where a pitcher put spit on the ball to make it move oddly, and -er means 'one who does it'. So a spitballer is a pitcher known for throwing illegal spitballs.