bull pen

American  

Or bullpen

noun

1. Baseball.

   1. a place where relief pitchers warm up during a game.

   2. the relief pitchers on a team.

2. Informal.

   1. a large cell or room, usually next to the courtroom, where prisoners are temporarily held.

   2. a large room in an office occupied by many employees.

3. any temporary or crowded quarters, as sleeping quarters in a lumber camp.

4. a pen for a bull or bulls.

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Etymology

Origin of bull pen

1800–10, bull pen for def. 4; 1920–25 bull pen for def. 1

Example Sentences

About five other people were going for that foul ball, and when you look at the inevitable replays, watch what the Cubs bull pen is doing.

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2016

Consequently, being in the bull pen made it hard to assert enough authority in order to carry out my job as head of logistics and international artist liaison.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2016

They have a Cory strong lineup, a solid professional bull pen, and the best starting pitching in baseball.

From New York Times • Jan. 23, 2016

Banged out a post about Ricky Gervais in the press bull pen.

From The Guardian • Aug. 28, 2011

The bull pen had long since been deserted and, with the foreground swept clean of its human excrescence, his purposeless gaze had wandered instinctively toward the promise of the forest-green hills in the distance.

From Broken to the Plow by Dobie, Charles Caldwell