pitcher

¹

[pich-er]

noun

1. a container, usually with a handle and spout or lip, for holding and pouring liquids.

2. Botany.

   1. a pitcherlike modification of the leaf of certain plants.

   2. an ascidium.

pitcher

²

[pich-er]

noun

1. a person who pitches.

2. Baseball.,  the player who throws the ball to the opposing batter.

3. Also called number seven iron. Golf.,  a club with an iron head the face of which has more slope than a mashie but less slope than a pitching niblick.

4. sett.

Pitcher

³

[pich-er]

noun

1. Molly Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, 1754–1832, American Revolutionary heroine.

pitcher

¹

/ ˈpɪtʃə /

noun

1. a large jug, usually rounded with a narrow neck and often of earthenware, used mainly for holding water

2. botany any of the urn-shaped leaves of the pitcher plant

pitcher

²

/ ˈpɪtʃə /

noun

1. baseball the player on the fielding team who pitches the ball to the batter

2. a granite stone or sett used in paving

Other Word Forms

• pitcherlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitcher¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English picher, from Old French pichier, from Medieval Latin picārium, variant of bicārium beaker

Origin of pitcher²

First recorded in 1700–10; pitch ¹ + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitcher¹

C13: from Old French pichier, from Medieval Latin picārium, variant of bicārium _beaker

Idioms and Phrases

see little pitchers have big ears.

Example Sentences

That’s also why the case brought by the family of deceased Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs against the Angels has surprised some legal experts.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

An injury to Brandon Woodruff left them short a starting pitcher, forcing them to turn to their bullpen to cover the entire contest.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Dodgers knew Sasaki was unlikely to feature as a starting pitcher in October, given their healthy and dominant rotation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Brewers started closing relief pitcher Trevor Megill after the Cubs became the first team in MLB history to hit homers in the first inning of the first four games of a playoff series.

Read more on Barron's

Then, after a series that saw the Phillies counter him with one left-handed pitcher after the next, he was also quick to point out that he wasn’t alone.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ace 
• baseball player www.thesaurus.com
• reliever