changeup

or change-up

[ cheynj-uhp ]

noun

, Baseball.

1. a pitch that follows one or more fastballs, delivered with the same motion as for a fastball but with less speed, intentionally disrupting the batter’s timing:

   He knows how to use his changeup to keep hitters off balance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of changeup¹

First recorded in 1940–45