double-double
UK[ˈdʌb.əl ˈdʌb.əl]US[ˈdʌb.əl ˈdʌb.əl]
n
In basketball, an achievement in which a player accumulates a total of ten or more in two of five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots) in a single game.
n
In Canadian coffee shop culture, a cup of coffee with two measures of cream and two measures of sugar.
Morpheme Breakdown
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Etymology
The term "double-double" is a modern English compound formed by the straightforward reduplication of the word "double." This repetition serves as an intensifier, creating a specific term for achieving a double quantity in two distinct categories. In basketball, it emerged as sports statistics became more detailed, literally meaning "double-double" in two statistical columns. In Canadian coffee ordering, it follows a similar additive logic, specifying a double portion of both cream and sugar, showcasing how compounding can create precise jargon within specific cultural contexts.
Analysis
Structure: double + double
- double: From Latin duplus (twofold, double), via Old French doble. In this compound, it functions as a numeral quantifier.
- double: Same origin and function as the first element, used for emphatic repetition.
Examples
The star center recorded a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds.
I'll have a large coffee, double-double, please.
Achieving a double-double in points and assists requires both scoring and playmaking skills.