bull pen

or bullpen

noun

1. Baseball.
   1. a place where relief pitchers warm up during a game.
   2. the relief pitchers on a team.
2. Informal.
   1. a large cell or room, usually next to the courtroom, where prisoners are temporarily held.
   2. a large room in an office occupied by many employees.
3. any temporary or crowded quarters, as sleeping quarters in a lumber camp.
4. a pen for a bull or bulls.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bull pen¹

1800–10, Americanism bull pen fordef 4; 1920–25 bull pen fordef 1

Example Sentences

Ye Bull Pen Inn was the site of many banquets and feasts for winning sports teams, with The Times writing lovingly of its design, where the main dining room was divided into stables and stalls, and interior woodwork was “especially aged and rough hewn.”

From Los Angeles Times

Kate Bevan, 53, was found dead in a bull pen at Combe Farm in Gittisham, near Honiton in Devon, on 3 January.

From BBC

When Klu powered his three-run home in the fourth inning to take a big bite out of Johnny Podres’ 8-0 lead, the iron-armed Sherry was waved in from the bull pen by manager Walt Alston, who also was the Dodger boss when they won their first World Series from the Yankees in 1955.

From Los Angeles Times

Similarly, the Bull Pen Cafe was adjacent to a livestock auction barn and was open for 60 years before closing in 2007.

From Washington Times

Wexler also paneled the bottom half of the second floor walls with boards from the office of the bull pen sale ring.

From Washington Times