line-drive
UK[ˈlaɪn draɪv]US[ˈlaɪn draɪv]
n
A hard-hit baseball or softball batted in a straight line not far above the ground.
Morpheme Breakdown
line
drive
line
straight path
drive
powered hit
Etymology
The term "line-drive" is a transparent compound from two native English elements, vividly describing the action it denotes. "Line," with its ancient roots in the Latin word for a linen thread, evolved to signify anything straight and direct, perfectly capturing the ball's trajectory. "Drive," from a robust Old English verb meaning to force into motion, conveys the power and speed imparted by the batter's swing. Combined in the late 19th century within the lexicon of baseball, the compound logically builds its modern, specific meaning from these literal components: a ball powerfully driven on a straight line.
Analysis
Structure: line (straight path) + drive (powered hit)
- line: From Old English līne (rope, series), from Latin līnea (linen thread, string). In this compound, it functions as a noun denoting a straight, linear path.
- drive: From Old English drīfan (to propel, force to move). In this compound, it functions as a noun denoting a powerfully struck ball.
Examples
The batter connected perfectly, sending a sharp line-drive into the outfield for a single.
The third baseman made a spectacular leaping catch to snag the scorching line-drive.
Hitting a line-drive is often more effective than hitting a fly ball because it is harder for fielders to react to.