overarm

American  

[oh-ver-ahrm] / ˈoʊ vərˌɑrm /

adjective

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

   an overarm pitch; an overarm swimming stroke.

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overarm British  

/ ˈəʊvərˌɑːm /

adjective

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

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adverb

1. with the arm raised above the shoulder

Etymology

Origin of overarm

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.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2021

You might as well be a skeptic on time limits for Tests or bowling overarm.

From The Guardian • Apr. 17, 2013

I copied Bruce Grobbelaar's American football style early on – a skill that even now you rarely see used, as opposed to the traditional overarm bowling action.

From The Guardian • Dec. 19, 2010

She instructed us to remove our sunglasses, stay calm and throw overarm, for greater force and distance.

From Washington Post

She was swimming with deliberate ease, with a long, single overarm stroke; and it was evident that she had not seen the ketch.

From Wild Oranges by Hergesheimer, Joseph