Definition

Noun: 1. A street game resembling baseball: A form of baseball, typically played informally in urban areas, using a rubber ball and a broomstick or similar stick as a bat.

Usage

• As a subject: "Stickball was a popular pastime in the neighborhood."
• As an object: "The kids organized a game of stickball in the alley."
• With modifiers: "We used to play street stickball every summer afternoon."

Examples

Advanced Usage

• Cultural reference: Stickball is often cited as a classic example of improvised urban street games from the mid-20th century, particularly in cities like New York.
• As a modifier: While "stickball" itself is a noun, it can function attributively (like an adjective) in phrases such as "stickball game" or "stickball legend."

Variants and Related Words

• Stickballer (noun): A person who plays stickball.
  • The local stickballers had their own unofficial championship.

Synonyms

• Street baseball: A direct descriptive synonym.
• Informal baseball: Highlights the unofficial, improvised nature of the game.

Notes on Meaning

This word refers specifically to the improvised street version of baseball. It is distinct from the organized sport of baseball and from other stick-and-ball games like cricket or rounders. The equipment (rubber ball, broomstick) and playing environment (streets, alleys) are central to its definition.

Noun

1. a form of baseball played in the streets with a rubber ball and broomstick handle