ˈhold-out
[See hold v. 41 e.]
a. (See quot.)
| 1893 in Farmer Slang. 1894 Maskelyne Sharps & Flats v. 73 The term ‘Holdout’ is the name given to a mechanical contrivance, constructed with the object of enabling the card-sharper to ‘hold-out’, or conceal one or more cards, until he finds that they will be useful to him. |
b. The act of holding out; something that or someone who holds out; spec. (chiefly U.S.) a player, usu. in baseball, who refuses to play until he is promised higher pay.
| 1945 Sun (Baltimore) 17 Feb. 7/7 This is another year when any baseball holdouts will do their shouting in whispers. Ibid. (heading) Holdout is weapon. 1952 B. Malamud Natural (1963) 22 He was a holdout for {pstlg}75,000 and was coming East to squeeze it out of his boss. 1964 Amer. Speech XXXIX. 91 Occasionally there was a hold⁓out, as in this lamentation: [etc.]. 1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 35/1 Whatever became of another well-known holdout, Joe Kapp?.. Kapp keeps waiting for the Minnesota Vikings to pay him more money. |
c. Of paint or ink (see quot. 1965).
| 1965 Gloss. Paint Terms (B.S.I.) 32 Hold out, the ability of a paint film to dry to its normal finish on a somewhat absorptive surface. 1971 Timber Trades Jrnl. 21 Aug. 29/1 Golden Royal hardboard..was already accepted as a good painting medium, but application of a seal..meant that..certain properties, including paint hold-out, workabilty and strength, were improved. 1972 Publishers Weekly 4 Dec. 11 (Advt.), Its unique combination of high ink hold-out, high brightness, and high opacity. |