baseball
UK[ˈbeɪsbɔːl]US[ˈbeɪsˌbɔl]
n
A game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players, each team playing alternately in the field and at bat.
n
The hard ball used in the game of baseball.
Morpheme Breakdown
base
ball
base
ball
Etymology
The word "baseball" is a transparent compound formed from two common English nouns, "base" and "ball." The term emerged in the mid-18th century, with its first recorded use in 1744, to describe a simple bat-and-ball game where players ran between safe points or "bases." The logic of the name is entirely descriptive: it denotes a game played with a ball where the central action involves running to and defending bases. While the modern sport with its codified rules developed in the 19th century, the name has persisted, perfectly capturing the game's two fundamental physical components.
Analysis
Structure: base + ball
- base: From Middle English bas, from Old French bas, from Late Latin bassus (low, short). In this compound, it refers to the safe stations or "bases" on the field.
- ball: From Middle English bal, from Old English beall or Old Norse bǫllr (a rounded object, sphere). Refers to the spherical object used in the game.
Examples
He played professional baseball for over a decade.
The children spent the afternoon playing baseball in the park.
A baseball crashed through the living room window.