BASKETBALL
ADJECTIVES
20C.. ► DEAD having completed a dribble and being forced either to shoot or pass → sl.
NOUNS
20C.. ► AIR TIME the time a basketball player remains in the air while making a slam dunk → Amer. sl.
1920 ► CAGE basketball; a basketball basket or net → US sports sl.
1960 ► B-BALL basketball → African-American sl.
1970 ► CAST-OFF a ridiculously long shot in basketball → US sl. (Bk.)
1974 ► RAINBOW JUMPER a high, arcing jump shot → US sl.
1976 ► CHIPPIE → CHIPPY an easy shot made unopposed from near the basket → Amer. sl.
1980 ► APPLE a basketball → US sl.
1980 ► BALL basketball → sl., orig. African-American
1980 ► CHINESE BASKET a shot that enters the basket from the bottom of the cylinder before dropping back through; according to ‘the rules,’ it doesn’t count → Amer. sl., usually offensive
1980 ► DOWNTOWN the thee-point field goal region → Amer. sl.
1980 ► FACE JOB a play or game which humiliates the opposition; a one-sided victory → Amer. sl.
1990 ► BALLING an excelling in the playing of basketball → African-American sl.
1994 ► ALLEY OOP a pass that is lobbed far through the air and tipped in by a player waiting near the basket → sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► AIR BALL a basketball throw that misses everything, esp. the basket → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► BRICK a failed shot in basketball that bounces off the rim or backboard → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► BUCKET a hoop or basket in basketball → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► CORDS a basketball net → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
NOUNS, PERSON
1925 ► CAGER a basketball player → Amer. sl.
1960 ► GUNNER a flashy performer → US sl.
1972 ► BUTCHER an excessively rough defensive player → US sl.
1974 ► BACKCOURTMAN a player who plays the backcourt and brings the ball out into the offensive zone
1994 ► AIRCRAFT CARRIER a player whose driving force can carry the team to victory → sl. (Bk.)
1996 ► BALLER a person who enjoys playing sport, esp. basketball → US students’ sl.
2005 ► BASKET-HANGER → HANGER a player who stays back under his basket while the other team is on offense; a quick pass to him from teammate potentially makes for an easy basket (Bk.)
2005 ► GARBAGE SHOOTER a player who specializes in taking and making easy shots close to the basket (Bk.)
2006 ► BALL HAWK a player who specializes in recovering loose balls; an aggressive defensive player who dives for and recovers loose balls, blocks passes, and shots, and makes steals and interceptions → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► BALL HOG a player who is not very popular for the simple reason that he or she doesn’t like to pass the ball → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► BASKETBALL JONES a playground basketball addict → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► BIG MAN the centre → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► HEAVER a player who shoots a lot → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► TAILOR a player deft not only at blocking shots but at altering them too → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
VERBS
20C.. ► D UP to set up a defense; to mark up on the opposition → Aust.
1934 ► SCRAUNCH to overcome an opponent in basketball → African-American students’ sl.
1970 ► DRAW IRON to hit the rim in a basketball shot → US students’ sl. (Bk.)
1977 ► HACK to strike the arm of an opponent with the hand → Amer. sl.
1979 ► BAG to score a basket → Amer. sl.
1980 ► BALL to play basketball → African-American sl.
1980 ► BUTCHER to block an offensive player with undue roughness → US sl.
1980 ► CROAK → CROAK ON SOMEONE to slam dunk despite being well guarded → African-American usage
1990 ► B-BALL to play basketball → African-American sl.
1990 ► SHAKE AND BAKE to dribble a basketball from left to right, this is the ‘shake,’ then going past your opponent to score a basket, this is the bake’: a trick played on the other team for a score in a basketball game
Lexicophilia 