dugout

[ duhg-out ]

noun

1. a boat made by hollowing out a log.
2. Baseball. a roofed structure enclosed on three sides and with the fourth side open and facing the playing field, usually with the floor below ground level, where the players sit when not on the field.
3. a rough shelter or dwelling formed by an excavation in the ground, in the face of a bank, in the side of a hill, etc., especially one used by soldiers.

dugout

/ ˈdʌɡˌaʊt /

noun

1. a canoe made by hollowing out a log
2. military a covered excavation dug to provide shelter
3. slang.
   a retired officer, former civil servant, etc, recalled to employment
4. (at a sports ground) the covered bench where managers, trainers, etc sit and players wait when not on the field
5. (in the Canadian prairies) a reservoir dug on a farm in which water from rain and snow is collected for use in irrigation, watering livestock, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of dugout¹

1715–25, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase dug out

Example Sentences

If it’s not clear to the men who grew up in the dugout what’s acceptable and what’s not, then make it so — or more women will be hurt.

From Washington Post

In one photo from the time, Ng is kneeling at the front of the dugout, eyes honed in on the Chicago hitter, more immersed in the action than anyone else.

From Time

The Nats will have those conferences on the mound, but more often than not, the manager will walk back to the dugout and the starter will keep the ball — whether that’s wise or not.

From Washington Post

It wasn’t the game that unfolded no more than 50 feet from where he sat in the home dugout.

From Washington Post

It is also true, as Friedman pointed out, that Dodgers personnel who were in contact with Turner on the field probably had already been exposed to him, given the nature of the bubble and the proximity in the dugout and other areas.

From Washington Post

When he gets back to the dugout he'll tell us why before we can ask.

From The Daily Beast

During the season, he regularly takes a dugout seat where he can work on his tan.

From The Daily Beast

The dugout was covered with semi-circular sheets of corrugated iron, forming a vaulted roof.

From The Daily Beast

One afternoon, with [Babe] Dahlgren near him in the dugout, a photographer asked Lou if he could take a photo of the two of them.

From The Daily Beast

He sported hair curlers in the dugout, took handfuls of amphetamines before games, and pitched a no-hitter on LSD.

From The Daily Beast

I jumped on to it—had to—then jumped off it nippier still and, turning to the right, began to walk towards Birdie's dugout.

From Project Gutenberg

As the old Turks kept plugging it in fairly hot, I sat quiet in Birdwood's dugout for a quarter of an hour.

From Project Gutenberg

I went into the dugout indescribably slack; hardly energy to struggle against the heat and the myriads of flies.

From Project Gutenberg

At last, rather tired by my long day, made my way back, stopping at Birdie's dugout en route.

From Project Gutenberg

Deedes also met me and the whole band of us made our way inland to my battle dugout.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cave
• cellar