Stopper

/ˈstɒpər/ noun

Definition

Something that prevents movement or prevents something from falling out, like a cork in a bottle or a baseball relief pitcher.

Etymology

From the verb 'stop,' which comes from Old English 'stoppian,' possibly influenced by Latin 'stuppa' (tow or stuffing). The suffix '-er' indicates something that does the action.

Kelly Says

In baseball, calling a relief pitcher a 'stopper' is brilliant slang because they literally stop the bleeding when a team is losing—the word works both literally and figuratively, which shows how sports language creates perfect metaphors.

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