[f. BASE sb.1 15.] The national field-game of the United States, a more elaborate variety of the English ‘rounders,’ played by two sides of nine each; so called from the ‘bases’ or bounds (usually four in number) which mark the circuit to be taken by each player of the in-side after striking the ball. Also, the ball used in the game.
c. 1815. Miss Austen, Northang. Ab., i. (1848), 3. It was not very wonderful that Catherine … should prefer cricket, base ball … to books.
1826. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. II. (ed. 2), 71–2. Her longing eyes fixed on a game of baseball at the corner of the green.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., x. 209. Amiable boys, who had never encountered any rougher play than a base-ball match.
1883. Harper’s Mag., Dec., 106/2. An oval ball … a little larger than a base-ball.
