Layups

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of basketball shot executed when a player approaches the basket and scores by placing the ball gently off the backboard or rim
2. A scoring technique in basketball where a player moves close to the hoop and attempts a shot in one smooth motion, often using the backboard for accuracy
3. An offensive maneuver in basketball involving a close-range shot that is typically made while in stride toward the basket, often favoring a high percentage of success

Etymology: The plural "layups" is simply the plural of "layup," so its history is that of the singular noun. "Layup" is a compound formed from the verb "lay" and the adverb "up," describing the basketball shot in which a player gently places or lays the ball against the backboard so that it rolls or drops into the basket. The construction follows the familiar pattern of English phrasal nouns built from a verb plus "up," such as "build-up" or "set-up," in which the particle turns an action into a named thing.