English Explanatory Dictionary

googly

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A ball, bowled by a leg-break bowler, that spins from off to leg (to a right-handed batsman), unlike a normal leg-break delivery.
adj
  1. Bulging.
  2. Appearing to be amorous, flirtatious.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡʉːɡli/ /ˈɡuɡli/ en-au-googly.ogg

Word forms

googly googlies googlier googliest

Etymology

Unknown; perhaps derived from googie (“an egg, in reference to the unusual direction of bounce”). Though the delivery was perfected and made famous by English cricketer Bernard Bosanquet, circa 1900, the term is recorded earlier in Australian English (1896).

Synonyms

bosie bosey wrong 'un

Related words

chinaman cutter doosra full toss inswing leg break off-break outswing screwball grip seamer yorker googly-eyed googly eye googly-moogly

Derived words

bowl a googly google
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