Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In cricket, delivered with the hand below the shoulder: said of bowling.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective (Cricket) Done (as bowling) with the arm not raised above the elbow, that is, not swung far out from the body; underhand. Cf. over-arm and round-arm.
  • adjective For use under the arms, specifically in the armpit.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective with hand brought forward and up from below shoulder level
  • adverb with the hand swung below shoulder level

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word under-arm.

Examples

  • He began to swear at the umpire and the crowd, especially after losing a key point in the fifth set when Chang shocked him by delivering an under-arm serve.

    Matthew Yglesias » Unleashing Chiang 2009

  • Sarah Palin has as much intelligence as a sack of her under-arm hair.

    Trial resumes in Palin e-mail hacking case 2010

  • The armour that soldiers wore seems to have been designed for under-arm spear use.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

  • With under-arm spear-use, the spears themselves might be a way to push at the enemy.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

  • This makes sense if the spear is being used under-arm, since it means that the shield does not get in the way of the spear so much, but is bafflingly daft if the spear is used over-arm, because it would serve simply to further expose the wielder.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

  • With the under-arm grip, the spear is held close in to the body, is much easier to hold, and it is much easier to take a rest.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

  • There is one instance in which an over-arm use is better than an under-arm use.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

  • With an under-arm grip, the spearman has his spear braced along his forearm, and has much more control of the spearhead.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

  • Also, if the swordsman advances, then the under-arm spear user can retreat a great deal faster, to bring his spearhead between them, as he has the ability denied to the over-arm user, of pulling back his spear, and sliding his right hand up the shaft, to shorten the weapon for close use.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

  • In such circumstances, under-arm users would have the advantages spelled out above, and more.

    The Spear « Isegoria 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.