stickball

stickball
/stik"bawl'/, n.
a form of baseball played in the streets, on playgrounds, etc., in which a rubber ball and a broomstick or the like are used in place of a baseball and bat.
[1815-25, Amer.; (BROOM)STICK + BALL1]

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▪ game
      game played on a street or other restricted area, with a stick, such as a mop handle or broomstick, and a hard rubber ball. Stickball developed in the late 18th century from such English games as old cat, rounders, and town ball. Stickball also relates to a game played in southern England and colonial Boston in North America called stoolball. All of these games were played on a field with bases, a ball, and one or more sticks.

      The modern game is played especially in New York City on the street, where such fixtures as a fire hydrant or an abandoned car serve as bases. These fixtures also provide targets off of which to carom a stickball. Manhole covers frequently serve as bases, and the length of hits is measured in terms of sewers. Players may wrap adhesive tape around one end of the stick for better grip. Stickball can be played with two teams or with one batter and several fielders. The rules are as diversified as the teams, neighbourhoods, or sections of the country playing the game. The central feature of the game is that the batter hits the ball as far as he can and then tries to get to the first base or farther before the fielder recovers the ball. The batter is put out either by the fielder hitting him with the ball, tagging him, or outrunning him to home base.

      Modern stickball is usually played like baseball, except for the lack of a standard ball and bat.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stickball — is a street game related to baseball, usually formed as a pick up game, in large cities in the Northeastern United States (especially New York City and Jersey City). The equipment consists of a broom handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen …   Wikipedia

  • stickball — ☆ stickball [stik′bôl΄ ] n. a game like baseball played by children, as on city streets, with improvised equipment such as a broom handle and a soft rubber ball …   English World dictionary

  • stickball — noun a form of baseball played in the streets with a rubber ball and broomstick handle • Syn: ↑stickball game • Hypernyms: ↑baseball, ↑baseball game …   Useful english dictionary

  • stickball game — noun a form of baseball played in the streets with a rubber ball and broomstick handle • Syn: ↑stickball • Hypernyms: ↑baseball, ↑baseball game …   Useful english dictionary

  • stickball — noun Date: 1922 baseball adapted for play in streets or small areas and using a broomstick and a lightweight ball …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • stickball — noun A street game similar to baseball, played with a stick, a ball and various ad hoc materials; found primarily in large cities in the northeastern United States …   Wiktionary

  • stickball — stick|ball [ stık,bɔl ] noun uncount a game similar to baseball that is played in the U.S. by children in the street using a stick and a ball …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stickball — noun N. Amer. an informal game played with a stick and a ball, resembling baseball or lacrosse …   English new terms dictionary

  • stickball — noun (U) a game like baseball that is played in the street by children in the US, using a small ball and a stick …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • stickball — UK [ˈstɪkˌbɔːl] / US [ˈstɪkˌbɔl] noun [uncountable] a game similar to baseball that is played in the US by children in the street using a stick and a ball …   English dictionary

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