[f. next verb.]
1. The action of the verb FOLLOW.
1870. Hardy & Ware, Mod. Hoyle, Dominoes, 93. It is sometimes an advantage to hold heavy dominoes, as they not unfrequently enable you to obtain what is called a good ‘follow.’
1889. A. P. Graves, in Spectator, 9 Nov., 635/1.
| And hark! the view-hollo! | |
| ’Tis Mack in full follow | |
| On black ‘Faugh-a-ballagh’ the country-side sailin’. |
2. Billiards. A stroke which causes the player’s ball to roll on after the object-ball which it has set in motion. Called also follow-stroke, and following stroke. Also, the impulse given to the ball by such a stroke.
1873. Bennett & Cavendish, Billiards, 371. The reason for playing with side is, that, when the balls are so close, sufficient ‘follow’ cannot be got on.
1881. H. W. Collender, Mod. Billiards, 38. The Follow-Stroke. Ibid., 39. The ‘follow’ can also be executed with the cue delivered as far as one-fourth below centre, but the latter delivery should be with a ‘slow’ strength of stroke, that the ball may rotate naturally.
3. Follow on. Cricket. The act of ‘following on’ (see FOLLOW v. 19 d); also applied to the innings itself. Also simply follow.
1881. Standard, 14 June, 3/8. A ‘follow on’ was necessary.
1884. Lillywhite’s Cricket Ann., 60. With the follow saved there was no chance of completion of the game.
1892. The Saturday Review, LXXIV. 9 July, 33/1. In the follow on things altered very much.
