fastball

English

Etymology

From fast (adjective) +‎ ball.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

fastball (plural fastballs) (baseball)

1. A high-speed pitch of a baseball.
2. (specifically) A four-seam fastball, which is a backspin pitch thrown with a ball gripped in the direction to cause four of the seams of the ball to cross the flight path and released with roughly equal pressure by the index and middle fingers

   The pitcher had a blazing fastball.

Synonyms

• cheese (slang)
• fireball
• gas (slang)
• heat (slang)
• hummer (slang)

Derived terms

• fastball count
• fastballer

See also

• Bugs Bunny change-up
• change-up
• curveball
• cut fastball
• gyroball
• knuckleball
• screwball
• sinker
• slider
• spitball
• split-finger fastball
• two-seam fastball

 

Anagrams

• fat balls