knuckleball

American  

[nuhk-uhl-bawl] / ˈnʌk əlˌbɔl /

Or knuckle ball

noun

Baseball.

1. a junk pitch that moves erratically toward home plate, usually delivered by holding the ball between the thumb and the knuckles of the first joints of the first two or three fingers.

   Trying to hit his knuckleball was like swatting at a fly with a straw.

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Etymology

Origin of knuckleball

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Karty, who has been masterful at dropping hard-to-handle knuckleball kickoffs into the landing zone, also misplaced a kick that gave the 49ers the ball at the 40-yard line.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

Ovechkin’s signature became a curved blade that causes one-timers to wobble through air like a knuckleball.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2025

"It's one of the knuckleball ones, but he should be saving it. He's made a mistake, but he has been one of the better goalkeepers this season."

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2024

Take your cut at the knuckleball we call the Slate News Quiz.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2023

To the old pitcher, they were like his own best knuckleball come back to haunt him.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli