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foul line

noun

  1. Baseball. either of the two lines connecting home plate with first and third base respectively, or their continuations to the end of the outfield.
  2. Also called free throw line. Basketball. a line on the court 15 feet (4.6 meters) from the backboard, from which foul shots are taken.
  3. Bowling. a line on an alley at right angles to the gutters and 60 feet (18.3 meters) from the center of the spot for the headpin, across which a bowler may not step for fair delivery of the ball.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of foul line1

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

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