rake
v.— «It’s as big a part of Baseball 101 vernacular as “that outfielder has a hose,” (a strong throwing arm), “the kid can really rake” (swing that bat) and “he can mash the ball” (hit for power).» —“Here’s what scouts look for when they grade prospects and their ‘tools’” by Todd Wills Dallas Morning News (Texas) June 9, 2003. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Asthenosphere, a geologist’s term for the molten layer beneath the earth’s crust, sparks a journey that stretches all the way from ancient Greece to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Plus: What the heck is a dogberg? It’s when...
Chris in Omaha, Nebraska, asks about the use of the adjective husky to describe the boys’ clothing section in a department store. This coded term refers to clothes made for heavier fellows. Husky was originally a positive term connoting the...