overarm

[oh-ver-ahrm]

adjective

1. thrown or performed by raising the arm above the shoulder.

   an overarm pitch; an overarm swimming stroke.

overarm

/ ˈəʊvərˌɑːm /

adjective

1. bowled, thrown, or performed with the arm raised above the shoulder

adverb

1. with the arm raised above the shoulder

Word History and Origins

Origin of overarm¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; over- + arm ¹

Example Sentences

They key difference between them, however, are that in baseball, the pitcher bowls overarm, while they do so underarm in softball.

Read more on BBC

The most apparent for spectators is the pitch: softball features an underarm pitch whereas baseball pitchers throw overarm.

Read more on Reuters

As MacMillan notes, there might be biological arguments for the male shoulder having evolved well for overarm missile launching, but neuroscience is debunking notions of a hormonally tranquillised female brain.

Read more on The Guardian

And, but for her willingness to be different, women would have taken a lot longer switching to serving overarm.

Read more on The Guardian

For example, experienced darts players throw overarm at about 5.5 metres per second, optimally releasing the dart 17 to 37 degrees before the arm becomes vertical.

Read more on BBC