southpaw

[south-paw]

noun

1. a person who is left-handed.

2. Sports.

   1. a player who throws with the left hand, especially a pitcher.

   2. Boxing.,  a boxer who leads with the right hand and stands with the right foot forward, using the left hand for the most powerful blows.

adjective

1. left-handed.

southpaw

/ ˈsaʊθˌpɔː /

noun

1. a boxer who leads with his right hand and off his right foot as opposed to the orthodox style of leading with the left

2. any left-handed person

adjective

1. of or relating to a southpaw

Word History and Origins

Origin of southpaw¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; south + paw ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of southpaw¹

C20: from _paw (in the sense: hand): originally a term applied to a left-handed baseball player: perhaps so called because baseball pitchers traditionally face west, so that a left-handed pitcher would throw with the hand on the south side of his body

Example Sentences

He is a natural southpaw, although he often switches stances, and has never tasted defeat as a professional.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Irish southpaw has fought three times at Madison Square Garden and filled Dublin’s 3Arena last year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The southpaw from Chatham, Kent, has stopped 10 of his 12 professional opponents and is a heavy favourite to extend his unbeaten record.

Read more on BBC

An undefeated southpaw with quick hands, good feet and pure power.

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It was "partly" the reason he chose to take on powerful southpaw Itauma.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

What does southpaw mean?

A southpaw is a left-handed person, especially a boxer or baseball pitcher. It is also an adjective meaning “left-handed.”What are other words are related to southpaw:

• pitcher



• boxing



• baseball