In racket sports (esp. tennis), volleyball, and other games played over a net or against a wall: the player who hits or throws the ball (or…

(a) a person able to act freely, as by the exercise of free will, or because of the absence of restriction, constraint, or responsibilities; (b) Sport…

(a) a person who sits idly on a bench; a lazy or ineffectual person; (b) a sports player who does not get selected to play, a substitute.

A thing that punches something, esp. an instrument, tool, or machine for punching; a person who punches something or someone.

colloquial. A horse with good endurance or staying power.

Chiefly Sport (originally Boxing). A person capable of striking something with force.

One who hits or strikes, as in boxing, cricket, etc. Also figurative.

U.S. colloquial. App: a figure resembling a devil or a person disguised as one. Also: an evil spirit. Now rare.

A player who is taking a benefit (benefit, n. 4a).

figurative (mostly humorous or slang). Applied to persons having the characteristics of a colt. A young or inexperienced person, a ‘green hand’…

A person or animal of more than the average weight; spec. a jockey, etc., of more than the average weight; a professional boxer weighing over 12 st…

Sport. A person or animal having great ‘staying power’.

A left-handed person; spec. a sportsperson who plays left-handed.

Sport. The attacking component of a team; the players committed to attacking.

spec. the cap, of a special form or colour, denoting selection as a member of a representative team, crew, etc.; hence, one who is awarded such a…

Sport. A player or competitor who represents, or has represented, his or her country in an international game or contest.

A sportsperson, esp. a cyclist, whose activity is carried out on the road.

a player in a big league; a prominent or high-profile sports player; also in extended use.

British. Sport. A person playing on his or her home territory. Esp. in plural: the home team.

(a) a follower of Kearney; (b) one who plays in a sandlot team.

A person who wears a badge (sometimes of a specified kind).

Sport (chiefly Scottish). A player or competitor who represents, or has represented, his or her country at an international level; = international, n.…

Chiefly U.S. A person who achieves a particular success, achievement, etc., again; esp. (Sport) a person who wins a contest, championship, etc…

A person (usually a man) who provides stability, support, or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation; the most dependable, experienced, or…

Originally U.S. A player who appears to seek the approval of the spectators rather than concentrating on the playing of the game; (in extended use)…

transferred. In sport or music, one who plays with style.

Canadian. A sportsperson (esp. a football or hockey player) born or raised in the same place as the team for which he or she plays.

North American. A sportsperson who has been awarded a letter (letter, n.1 3b).

the loser of a toss; so toss-winner.

Sport. A player or competitor who infringes the rules; esp. one who commits fouls regularly or habitually.

Originally and chiefly North American. A new member of a sports team, esp. one playing in his or her first major league or championship.

Sport. An athlete or player who copes well with wet or muddy conditions; (more generally) a hard-working player.

Transferred senses. Sport. A player whose aim is particularly accurate. U.S.

= pro-am, n. 2.

Tennis, Badminton, etc. A player who does not have service for a particular point or game; the person to whom the ball is served.

gen. A left-handed sportsperson.

A person who specializes in a freestyle event, discipline, or technique; a competitor in a freestyle race or competition. Cf. freestyle, adj. 1.

Sport colloquial (originally U.S.). An exceptionally skilled player, esp. in a sport which requires shooting (at goal, at a target, etc.); an…

Originally and chiefly U.S. Sport (chiefly Baseball and American Football). Any of a (fixed) number of players on a squad who are eligible to play…

Sport (originally and chiefly Baseball). A sportsperson who has achieved an unsurpassed or unequalled record during their career or who is…

Originally U.S. Sport. A man who performs well under pressure; a calm, composed, or dispassionate person (frequently as a nickname). Later also: a…

(a) (see sense A. 15b above); also figurative; (b) Sport (originally U.S.), a player or team chosen for a tournament at the discretion of the…

One who scrambles. (Cf. scambler, n.)

With prefixed ordinal number. Chiefly North American Sport. A player selected in a specified round of a draft. Cf. draft, n. additions.

North American. Sport. An outstanding player regarded as a team's most valuable member. Frequently attributive, esp. in franchise player.

Sport. North American. A person invited to play for a particular team.

One who takes part in a preliminary match or contest, with a view to being selected for a major team. Cf. trial, n.1 6b.

Canadian Football. A Canadian player; (also) a U.S. player who has played in the Canadian Football League for four or more years and so is counted as…

transferred. In sport, a person who deliberately underperforms in order to gain an unfair handicap or other advantage. Cf. sandbag, v. additions…

Sport. A player who participates in a rebel tour or fixture (cf. sense A. 2e). Frequently in plural.

North American. Sport. A player having a wide, large, or heavily built body.