batsman
(ˈbætsmən)
[f. bat's (bat n.2) + -man.]
1. a. One who handles the bat at cricket. batsman's wicket, a cricket pitch more favourable to the batsman than to the bowler.
| 1756 Gentl. Mag. XXVI. 489 The wary batsman watches o'er the game. 1830 Miss Mitford Village Ser. iv. (1863) 147 The best batsman in the county. 1851 Pycroft Cricket Field (1859) 225 With fast bowling and good batsmen. 1876 Baily's Mag. June 415 Much..will depend on..whether it is a batsman's or a bowler's wicket on the day of the match. 1927 G. A. Terrill Out in Glare v. 84 It would be a dumbfounding disgrace..if wickets went on falling in this way—on this ‘batsman's wicket’. |
b. U.S. One who wields the bat in baseball.
| 1856 Spirit of Times (N.Y.) 6 Dec. 229/1 He who strikes it [sc. a fast ball by Stevens] fairly must be a fine batsman. |
2. A man who signals an aircraft with a pair of bats. Cf. bat n.2 3 f.
| 1943 Fleet Air Arm (Ministry of Information) iv. 30/1 The Deck-Landing Control Officer is known as ‘the Batsman’—from the implements with which he signals to the pilots. 1949 Aeronautics July 35 When a pilot is high the batsman stands with the bats above his shoulders. |