punchball

American  

[puhnch-bawl] / ˈpʌntʃˌbɔl /

noun

1. a form of playground or street baseball in which a rubber ball is batted with the fist.

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punchball British  

/ ˈpʌntʃˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a stuffed or inflated ball, supported by a flexible rod, that is punched for exercise, esp boxing training

2. a game resembling baseball in which a light ball is struck with the fist

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Etymology

Origin of punchball

First recorded in 1930–35; punch ¹ + ball ¹

Example Sentences

We played all these street games — stickball, punchball, slapball — all those aggressive-sounding games that were so fun.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2022

“I grew up playing stickball and punchball, so I have good hand-eye coordination,” he said.

From New York Times • May 2, 2015

The pink rubber ball became my full-time companion; punchball, stickball, off-the-wall, etc.

From New York Times • Sep. 15, 2012

If Albert the world's worst punchball player did not actually become Gerald the novelist, at very least they must have shared Brownsville in the 1930s.

From Time Magazine Archive

I would play basketball in the mornings with the boys who were just reaching their teens, and then stoop ball or punchball on the block with boys my age.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers