long-ball
UK[ˈlɒŋ bɔːl]US[ˈlɔːŋ bɔːl]
n
A long pass or kick in sports such as soccer or rugby, intended to move the ball a great distance quickly.
n
A strategy in baseball of trying to score runs by hitting the ball for a home run, rather than through a series of shorter hits.
Morpheme Breakdown
long
ball
long
adjective
ball
noun
Etymology
The compound noun 'long-ball' is a transparent combination of two native English words, each with deep Germanic roots. 'Long' descends from the Proto-Germanic 'langgaz', conveying the fundamental concept of extended linear dimension. 'Ball' traces back to Proto-Germanic 'balluz', likely referring to a rounded mass or sphere. In a sporting context, the term logically emerged to describe a ball propelled over a long distance. Its meaning specialized in different sports: in football codes, it denotes a direct, lengthy pass, while in baseball, it metaphorically represents the high-risk, high-reward strategy of aiming for powerful, game-changing home runs.
Analysis
Structure: long (adjective) + ball (noun)
- long: From Old English 'lang, long', meaning 'having great linear extent'. Of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'lang' and German 'lang'.
- ball: From Old Norse 'bǫllr', meaning 'ball'. Of Germanic origin; related to Old English 'bealluc' (testicle) and later to the rounded object used in games.
Examples
The team's tactic relied heavily on the long-ball over the top of the defense.
He connected perfectly with the long-ball from the winger and volleyed it into the net.
Critics say the manager's long-ball philosophy makes for boring, predictable football.