[syn: underarm, underhand]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Underhand \Un"der*hand`\ ([u^]n"d[~e]r*h[a^]nd`), a.
1. Secret; clandestine; hence, mean; unfair; fraudulent.
--Addison.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Baseball, Cricket, etc.) Done, as pitching, with the hand
lower than the shoulder, or, as bowling, with the hand
lower than the elbow.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Underhand \Un"der*hand`\ ([u^]n"d[~e]r*h[a^]nd`), adv.
1. By secret means; in a clandestine manner; hence, by fraud;
unfairly; dishonorably.
[1913 Webster]
Such mean revenge, committed underhand. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Baillie Macwheeble provided Janet, underhand, with
meal for their maintenance. --Sir W.
Scott.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In modern usage, the sense is usually negative.
[PJC]
2. (Baseball, Cricket, etc.) In an underhand manner; thrown
with the hand no higher than the shoulder and the palm
turned upward during part of the pitch; -- said of
pitching or bowling a ball.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
underhand
adv 1: slyly and secretly; "Mean revenge, committed underhand"-
John Donne; "oldline aristocratic diplomats underhandedly
undermined the attempt...to align Germany with the
Western democracies"- C.G.Bowers [syn: underhandedly,
underhand]
2: with the hand swung below shoulder level; "throwing a ball
underarm" [syn: underarm, underhand]
adj 1: with hand brought forward and up from below shoulder
level; "an underhand pitch"; "an underhand stroke" [syn:
underhand, underhanded, underarm] [ant: overarm,
overhand, overhanded]
2: marked by deception; "achieved success in business only by
underhand methods" [syn: sneaky, underhand,
underhanded]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
20 Moby Thesaurus words for "underhand":
crafty, crooked, cunning, deceitful, devious, dishonest,
duplicitous, furtive, guileful, hangdog, indirect, insidious,
oblique, shifty, sly, sneaking, sneaky, tricky, underhanded,
wily