bump-and-run

noun

variants or less commonly bump and run
1
American football : a defensive play in which a defender attempts to disrupt a wide receiver from running the intended route by bumping or otherwise contacting the receiver at the line of scrimmage
In contrast, the Patriots played nothing but bump-and-run against the Colts in the AFC championship game, beating up the Indianapolis receivers.Paul Attner, Sporting News, February 2004
2
golf : a low shot that is played to bounce and then roll toward the hole
I learned the hard way that the bump-and-run was the intelligent shot because it's easier to hit than a delicate pitch, takes less nerve, and offers more margin for error.Greg Norman, Golf, January 1996

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bump-and-run was in 1969

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near bump-and-run

Cite this Entry

“Bump-and-run.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bump-and-run. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!