brushback

American  

[bruhsh-bak] / ˈbrʌʃˌbæk /

noun

Baseball.

1. a fastball thrown high and inside to force the batter away from the plate, often to intimidate.

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Etymology

Origin of brushback

First recorded in 1950–55; noun use of verb phrase brush back

Example Sentences

He policed brushback pitches with ardor and once called a night game for darkness when lighting malfunctions compromised visibility near home plate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Newsom, of course, also has many potential brushback pitches in his arsenal.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2024

And in Major League Baseball, brushback pitches, beanballs and brawls are part of the sport’s lore, and are excused as apt punishment for breaking the game’s unwritten rules.

From Washington Post • Apr. 13, 2023

But Machado was mad following Sale’s brushback attempt in the second game of their most recent series this past Tuesday.

From The Guardian • May 12, 2017

And in Game 3 of the World Series, he delivered a win over Kansas City by allowing just three runs over six solid innings and throwing a boldfaced brushback pitch to start the game.

From New York Times • Oct. 2, 2016