Hardballs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of baseball used in competitive games characterized by its firmness and smooth surface
2. Referring to a situation in which strict or harsh measures are implemented; a colloquial term suggesting tough tactics in negotiations
3. Denoting the actual balls utilized in the sport of baseball that have a rigid construction for official play

Etymology: "Hardballs" is simply the plural of "hardball", a compound of "hard" and "ball". The word in its literal sense names the baseball itself, a ball with a firm, rigid core, as opposed to the softer balls used in games like softball. The word's shape is a plain descriptive pairing, with the adjective "hard" modifying the noun "ball," so its history is straightforward: the two parts have their own long histories in English, and the compound simply joins them.

Synonyms: baseballs, solid balls