stickball

American  

[stik-bawl] / ˈstɪkˌbɔl /

noun

1. a form of baseball played in the streets, on playgrounds, etc., in which a rubber ball and a broomstick or the like are used in place of a baseball and bat.

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Other Word Forms

• stickballer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of stickball

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; (broom)stick + ball ¹

Example Sentences

His mother moved the family to Brooklyn, where the red-haired, blue-eyed Scully grew up playing stickball in the streets.

From Washington Post • Aug. 2, 2022

A former left-handed stickball player, he quickly had to learn how to throw and bat right-handed, because the disease had impaired his left arm and hand.

From New York Times • Dec. 24, 2021

Rosen played stickball and youth baseball and dreamed of being a big leaguer despite not being that great a hitter.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2021

Or those stickball games with kids in Harlem not far from the old Polo Grounds.

From Seattle Times • May 5, 2021

“That comes next week. This week you have a choice of stickball, ring-a-levio, and pacification.”

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers