square leg
Americannoun
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the position of a fielder on the left of the batsman and almost on the opposite side of the wicket.
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the fielder occupying this position.
noun
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a fielding position on the on side approximately at right angles to the batsman
-
a person who fields in this position
Etymology
Origin of square leg
First recorded in 1850–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ireland tested her with the short ball and forced her to hit to the sweepers, which she handled efficiently before her eventual downfall as she was brilliantly caught by Prendergast at deep square leg.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
Pakistan's second innings also included dismissals caught at leg slip and backward square leg, although those were as much down to batter error as Root's ingenuity.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Seventeen runs from a maiden century, he scented six of them when Nathan Gilchrist dropped short, but his pull found only the hands of Dan Mousley at deep square leg.
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
Spinner Liam Dawson ended it in the 13th over when Bruce was caught for 24, Curran providing the safe hands at deep square leg.
From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026
The fifth went for four to square leg, almost killing the umpire on its way, and the sixth soared in the old familiar manner into the road again.
From A Prefect's Uncle by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
