southpaw

From south +‎ paw.

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. Needs some information about why this combination was chosen in this meaning. Why is south left?

• IPA^(key): /ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈsaʊθˌpɑ/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -aʊθpɔː, -aʊθpɑ

southpaw (plural southpaws)

1. (informal) One who is left-handed, especially in sports.
   • 1943, United States Army, A short guide to Syria:

     Never touch the food until your host has said grace ("Bismillah") and then not till he has told you to. Eat only with your right hand—it is considered very rude to use the left, even if you are a southpaw.

   Synonyms: left-hander, lefty

   Antonyms: northpaw, right-hander

   1. (baseball) A left-handed pitcher.

      Since home plate is generally in the southwest corner to avoid glare in the batter's eyes, a southpaw's pitching hand is to the south.

      • 1920, F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise/Book Two/Chapter 5, Book Two/Chapter 5:

        Eleanor would pitch, probably southpaw. Rosalind was outfield, wonderful hitter, Clara first base, maybe.

   2. A boxer who leads with the right hand and guards with the left.

• “southpaw”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.