Answerbag: wickedwillie's answers

Answer to What is an action?

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 08:39:06 -0700

What is an action?

The working mechanism of a firearm. Various types exist, including single-shots, multi-barrels, revolvers, slide- or pump- actions, lever-actions, bolt-actions, semi-automatics and automatics. The action is the moving parts of a firearm that allow loading, firing, unloading and the ejection of...

Answer to What is a trigger weight?

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 08:35:55 -0700

What is a trigger weight?

The force which must be applied to the trigger to fire; measured by hanging a weight on the trigger. It is typically around 4 pounds (2 kg) if the arm is cocked. About 12-18 pounds (5-8 kg) must be applied to cock a double-action pistol.

Answer to What is a caliber?

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 08:34:10 -0700

What is a caliber?

The diameter of the bore of a gun; but for artillery and naval guns, the length of the barrel in numbers of diameters. For instance, a 5 inch 38 caliber gun would have a barrel 190 inches long.

Answer to What is a spider?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:51:34 -0800

What is a spider?

A high rest that allows a player to cue over an intervening ball. It takes it's name from the long 'legs' that give it it's extra height.

Answer to What is a side?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:50:47 -0800

What is a side?

Side-spin effect, applied to the cue-ball by striking left or right of centre. It has little effect until the cue-ball strikes a cushion at an angle, when the cue-ball will either speed up (Running Side), or slow down (Check Side) as it leaves the cushion.

Answer to What is a shot to nothing?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:50:08 -0800

What is a shot to nothing?

A stroke in which the player attempts to pot an object-ball and leave the cue-ball in the baulk area of the table. If he misses the pot no easy scoring shot will be left, but if he does pot the red the cue-ball may finish favourably for one of the three baulk colours.

Answer to What is a nap?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:48:16 -0800

What is a nap?

The very fine, hair-like surface of the cloth that runs from the bottom (baulk) of the table to the top. Like velvet it feels smooth when brushed one way but rough in the other, and causes a ball to run more truly 'with' the nap than against it, especially the cue-ball if it's...

Answer to What is a kick?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:47:06 -0800

What is a kick?

An unnatural contact between the cue-ball and object-ball. Commonly believed to be caused by a speck of dust or chalk on either ball at the point of contact.

Answer to What is a jaw?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:46:31 -0800

What is a jaw?

Refers to the part of the cushion that curves in to form the pocket opening.

Answer to What is a fluke?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:45:28 -0800

What is a fluke?

Any shot that ends well for the player even though the outcome was completely unintentional. As a rule, hard-hitting players get more flukes than those playing with more control.

Answer to What is a double?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:44:35 -0800

What is a double?

A stroke in which either the cue-ball or the object-ball contacts one or more cushions before completing the shot.

Answer to What is a clearance?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:43:50 -0800

What is a clearance?

A series of consecutive scoring strokes in which all remaining balls on the table are pocketed.

Answer to What is a cannon?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:42:34 -0800

What is a cannon?

A stroke in which the cue-ball is made to contact more than one object-ball. A cannon has no scoring value in Snooker, but is commonly used to gain or improve position.

Answer to What is does it mean to be "angled?"

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:41:11 -0800

What is does it mean to be "angled?"

The striker is said to be "angled" when the cue-ball lies so close to, or touching, the jaw of a pocket, that the cushion prevents a direct shot being played at the ball "on".

Answer to What is snookered?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:40:17 -0800

What is snookered?

The condition of incoming player's cue ball position when he cannot shoot in a straight line and contact all portions of an on ball directly facing the cue ball (because of balls not "on" that block the path).

Answer to What is a pot?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:39:28 -0800

What is a pot?

The pocketing of an object ball.

Answer to What is a miss?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:39:09 -0800

What is a miss?

The call the referee makes in snooker if it is judged the player has not endeavored to the best of his ability to hit the ball on.

Answer to What is a free ball?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:38:41 -0800

What is a free ball?

After a foul, if the cue ball is snookered, the referee shall state "Free Ball". If the non- offending player takes the next stroke he may nominate any ball as on, and for this stroke, such ball shall be regarded as, and acquire the value of, the ball on.

Answer to What is a frame?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:38:12 -0800

What is a frame?

The equivalent of one game in snooker.

Answer to What is a plant?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:37:34 -0800

What is a plant?

A position of two or more red balls that allows a ball to be driven into a pocket with a combination shot: the white cueball hits a red, which hits another red that is pocketed.

Answer to What is a break?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:36:39 -0800

What is a break?

Total consecutive points scored by a player in one inning/turn.

Answer to What is a baulk line?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:35:54 -0800

What is a baulk line?

A straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion and parallel to it.

Answer to What is a baulk?

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:35:28 -0800

What is a baulk?

The intervening space between the bottom cushion and the Baulk-line.

Answer to In gymnastics, what is virtuosity?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:07:56 -0800

In gymnastics, what is virtuosity?

The artistry, or the degree of rhythm and harmony, displayed while a movement is executed. In general, the more flowing and seamless a series of skills appears to be, the greater the virtuosity and the higher the score.

Answer to What is a twist?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:07:36 -0800

What is a twist?

Not to be confused with a salto, a twist occurs when the gymnast rotates around the body's longitudinal axis, defined by the spine.

Answer to What is a tuck?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:07:12 -0800

What is a tuck?

A position in which the knees and hips are bent and drawn into the chest; the body is folded at the waist.

Answer to What is a pike position?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:06:29 -0800

What is a pike position?

Body bent forward more than 90 degrees at the hips while the legs are kept straight.

Answer to What is a kip?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:05:56 -0800

What is a kip?

Movement from a position below the equipment to a position above, usually on the uneven bars, parallel bars or high bar.

Answer to What is a flic-flac?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:05:22 -0800

What is a flic-flac?

Also known as a flip-flop or back handspring. Take off on one or two feet, jump backwards onto hands and land on feet. This element is used in a majority of tumbling passes on the floor exercise. It's also used a great deal on the balance beam.

Answer to What is a deduction?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:04:50 -0800

What is a deduction?

Points taken off a gymnast's score for errors. Most deductions are pre-determined, such as a 0.5 deduction for a fall from an apparatus or a 0.1 deduction for stepping out of bounds on the floor exercise.

Answer to What is a composition?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:04:19 -0800

What is a composition?

The structure of a gymnastics routine. Each individual movement or skill is a building block; the arrangement of the moves in the exercise is called the composition of the routine.

Answer to What is amplitude?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:03:46 -0800

What is amplitude?

The height or degree of execution of a movement. In general, the higher the salto or the more breathtaking the movement, the better the amplitude and the score.

Answer to What is an aerial?

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:03:17 -0800

What is an aerial?

A stunt in which the gymnast turns completely over in the air without touching the apparatus with his or her hands.

Answer to What is a lahar?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:41:49 -0800

What is a lahar?

An Indonesian term for a volcanic mudflow. These lethal mixtures of water and tephra have the consistency of wet concrete, yet they can flow down the slopes of volcanoes or down river valleys at rapid speeds, similar to fast-moving streams of water. These mud slurries carry debris ranging in size...

Answer to What is magma?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:35:42 -0800

What is magma?

Molten rock beneath the surface of the earth.

Answer to What is a lava?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:35:09 -0800

What is a lava?

Magma which has reached the surface through a volcanic eruption. The term is most commonly applied to streams of liquid rock that flow from a crater or fissure. It also refers to cooled and solidified rock.

Answer to What is a hyaloclastite?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:33:52 -0800

What is a hyaloclastite?

A deposit formed by the flowing or intrusion of lava or magma into water, ice, or water-saturated sediment and its consequent granulation or shattering into small angular fragments.

Answer to What is an extinct volcano?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:32:30 -0800

What is an extinct volcano?

A volcano that is not presently erupting and is not likely to do so for a very long time in the future.

Answer to What is a dormant volcano?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:31:35 -0800

What is a dormant volcano?

Literally, "sleeping." The term is used to describe a volcano which is presently inactive but which may erupt again. Most of the major Cascade volcanoes are believed to be dormant rather than extinct.

Answer to What is a compound volcano?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:30:47 -0800

What is a compound volcano?

A volcano that consists of a complex of two or more vents, or a volcano that has an associated volcanic dome, either in its crater or on its flanks. Examples are Vesuvius and Mont Pelee.

Answer to What is a crater?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:29:41 -0800

What is a crater?

A steep-sided, usually circular depression formed by either explosion or collapse at a volcanic vent.

Answer to What is a bomb?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:28:31 -0800

What is a bomb?

Fragment of molten or semi-molten rock, 2 1/2 inches to many feet in diameter, which is blown out during an eruption. Because of their plastic condition, bombs are often modified in shape during their flight or upon impact.

Answer to What is ash?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:27:51 -0800

What is ash?

Fine particles of pulverized rock blown from an explosion vent. Measuring less than 1/10 inch in diameter, ash may be either solid or molten when first erupted. By far the most common variety is vitric ash (glassy particles formed by gas bubbles bursting through liquid magma).

Answer to What is a stratovolcano?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:24:56 -0800

What is a stratovolcano?

A volcano composed of both lava flows and pyroclastic material.

Answer to What is a shield volcano?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:23:28 -0800

What is a shield volcano?

A gently sloping volcano in the shape of a flattened dome and built almost exclusively of lava flows.

Answer to What is a repose?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:22:12 -0800

What is a repose?

The interval of time between volcanic eruptions.

Answer to What is pyroclastic flow?

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 09:21:42 -0800

What is pyroclastic flow?

Lateral flowage of a turbulent mixture of hot gases and unsorted pyroclastic material (volcanic fragments, crystals, ash, pumice, and glass shards) that can move at high speed (50 to 100 miles an hour.) The term also can refer to the deposit so formed.

Answer to What is a pitchout?

Wed, 04 Aug 2004 16:34:14 -0700

What is a pitchout?

A pitch deliberately thrown high and away from the batter to make it easier for the catcher to throw out a base runner who is standing off a base or attempting to steal.

Answer to What is a steeple chase?

Fri, 23 Jul 2004 16:12:05 -0700

What is a steeple chase?

A race (usually 3000m) in which runners must negotiate barriers (hurdles or others) and water jumps

Answer to What is a triple double?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:49:34 -0700

What is a triple double?

When a player scores double-digits in 3 categories during one game (points, assists and rebounds are most common, but it can also be blocks or steals); a sign of great versatility.

Answer to What is a team foul?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:48:53 -0700

What is a team foul?

Each personal foul committed by a player is also counted against his team; when a team goes over the limit, its opponent is awarded free-throw opportunities. When a team commits 5 or more team fouls per NBA period (4 in each overtime); 8 or more per WNBA half; 7 or more per half in college;...

Answer to What is a shot clock?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:47:28 -0700

What is a shot clock?

a clock that limits the time a team with the ball has to shoot it; 24 seconds in the NBA; in college, 35 seconds for men, 30 seconds for women.

Answer to What is a rebound?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:46:44 -0700

What is a rebound?

When a player grabs a ball that is coming off the rim or backboard after a shot attempt.

Answer to What is a personal foul?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:45:41 -0700

What is a personal foul?

Contact between players that may result in injury or provide one team with an unfair advantage; players may not push, hold, trip, hack, elbow, restrain or charge into an opponent; these are also counted as team fouls.

Answer to What is a fake?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:42:15 -0700

What is a fake?

A deceptive move to throw a defender off balance and allow an offensive player to shoot or receive a pass; players use their eyes, head or any other part of the body to trick an opponent. Also called feint.

Answer to What is a dunk?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:41:33 -0700

What is a dunk?

When a player close to the basket jumps and strongly throws the ball down into it; an athletic, creative shot used to intimidate opponents.

Answer to What is a blocking?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:37:57 -0700

What is a blocking?

The use of a defender's body position to illegally prevent an opponent's advance; the opposite of charging.

Answer to What is a basket?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:37:05 -0700

What is a basket?

The hoop attached to the backboard, it consists of a metal rim 18" in diameter suspended 10' from the floor, from which a 15-18" corded net hangs, and through which points are scored; also used to refer to a successful field goal.

Answer to What is an assist?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:35:05 -0700

What is an assist?

The last pass to a teammate that leads directly to a field goal; the scorer must move immediately toward the basket for the passer to be credited with an assist; only 1 assist can be credited per field goal.

Answer to What is a yellow card?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:31:12 -0700

What is a yellow card?

A playing card-sized card that a referee holds up to warn a player for dangerous or unsportsmanlike behavior; also called a caution; 2 yellow cards in one game earns a player an automatic red card, signaling his removal from the game.

Answer to What is a winger?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:30:38 -0700

What is a winger?

An outside forward who plays to the sides of the strikers and whose primary task is to provide them with accurate crossing passes so they can shoot at the goal; often the fastest players and best dribblers on a team.

Answer to What is a referee?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:29:39 -0700

What is a referee?

The chief official; he makes all final decisions, acts as timekeeper, calls all fouls and starts and stops play.

Answer to What is a throw-in?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:28:58 -0700

What is a throw-in?

A type of restart where a player throws the ball from behind his head with two hands while standing with both feet on the ground behind a sideline; taken by a player opposite the team that last touched the ball before it went out of bounds across a sideline.

Answer to What is a sudden death?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:28:24 -0700

What is a sudden death?

A type of overtime where the first goal scored by a team ends the game and gives that team the victory; this goal is called the 'golden goal'

Answer to What is a passing?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:26:15 -0700

What is a passing?

When a player kicks the ball to his teammate; used to move the ball closer to the opposing goal, to keep the ball away from an opponent or to give the ball to a player who is in a better position to score.

Answer to What is a linesmen?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:24:50 -0700

What is a linesmen?

The 2 officials who assist the referee in making his decisions; they monitor the sidelines and goal lines to determine when a ball goes out of bounds and they carry a flag to signal their observations.

Answer to What is a kickoff?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:24:21 -0700

What is a kickoff?

The method of starting a game or restarting it after each goal; a player passes the ball forward to a teammate from the center spot.

Answer to What is an injury time?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:23:42 -0700

What is an injury time?

Time added to the end of any period according to the referee's or fourth official's judgment of time lost due to player injuries or intentional stalling by a team.

Answer to What is an indirect free kick?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:22:47 -0700

What is an indirect free kick?

A kick awarded to a player for a less-serious foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball without any opposing players within 10 yards of him; a goal can only be scored on this kick after the ball has touched another player.

Answer to What is a goal kick?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:21:46 -0700

What is a goal kick?

A type of restart where the ball is kicked from inside the goal area away from the goal; awarded to the defending team when a ball that crossed the goal line was last touched by a player on the attacking team.

Answer to What is a direct free kick?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:19:58 -0700

What is a direct free kick?

A kick awarded to a player for a serious foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball with no opposing players within 10 yards of him; a goal can be scored directly from this kick without the ball touching another player.

Answer to What is a bicycle kick?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:18:08 -0700

What is a bicycle kick?

When a player kicks the ball in mid-air backwards and over his own head, usually making contact above waist level; an acrobatic shot.

Answer to What is a banana kick?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:17:36 -0700

What is a banana kick?

A type of kick that gives the ball a curved trajectory; used to get the ball around an obstacle such as a goaltender or defender.

Answer to What is an assist?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:16:43 -0700

What is an assist?

The pass or passes which immediately precede a goal; a maximum of two assists can be credited for one goal.

Answer to What is an advantage?

Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:16:05 -0700

What is an advantage?

A clause in the rules that directs the referee to refrain from stopping play for a foul if a stoppage would benefit the team that committed the violation.

Answer to What is a heelflip?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:09:47 -0800

What is a heelflip?

A trick where you ollie, bring your front foot to the toe side of the board, flicking the board back with the ball of the foot. The board flips in the air, and you land on it.

Answer to What is a 50-50?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:08:35 -0800

What is a 50-50?

Grinding with both trucks.

Answer to What is a 5-0?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:07:57 -0800

What is a 5-0?

Grinding with only the back truck.

Answer to What is a manual?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:06:31 -0800

What is a manual?

A trick where, while rolling, the front wheels are lifted off the ground, but the tail does not touch the ground. Similar to a wheelie in other wheeled sports.

Answer to What is a nosegrind?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:05:30 -0800

What is a nosegrind?

Grinding with only the front truck.

Answer to What is an ollie?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:04:15 -0800

What is an ollie?

A trick where the skater pops the board into the air. Basicly, the trick involves snapping the tail of the board down while sliding the front foot up along the board.

Answer to What is a nollie?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:03:25 -0800

What is a nollie?

A trick where the skater pops the board into the air. Basicly similar to an Ollie, but with the nose of the board instead of the tail.

Answer to What is a grind?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:02:29 -0800

What is a grind?

Sliding along an edge (such as a curb, bench, rail, coping, etc.) using your trucks. Depending on which trucks are being used, and what direction you are moving, there are many different types of grinds, such as the 50-50, the 5-O, the Nosegrind, and many many others.

Answer to What is a truck?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 06:01:58 -0800

What is a truck?

The axle for a skateboard. The metal T-shaped part that mounts onto the underside of the board, that the wheels will be attached to. A regular trick-board will have two trucks, each facing each other.

Answer to What is a tie-breaker?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:45:44 -0800

What is a tie-breaker?

Rule for deciding sets where the score has reached 6-6. During tie-breaks players are awarded points numerically. The first player with 7 points wins the set, provided he or she has a lead of 2 points, e.g. 7-5. If not, play continues until this two-point advantage lead has been established, e.g....

Answer to What is spin?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:44:47 -0800

What is spin?

The rotation of a ball resulting from special types of strokes like slice and topspin. Spin affects a ball's trajectory and the way it bounces.

Answer to What is a drive?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:44:06 -0800

What is a drive?

A powerful stroke with slight topspin. Given its long, straight trajectory it is well-suited as a passing shot or attempted winner.

Answer to What is a slice?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:43:33 -0800

What is a slice?

A slice shot differs from a "drive" in that the backspin applied keeps it in the air for longer, causing it to travel further before bouncing.

Answer to What is a serve and volley?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:42:57 -0800

What is a serve and volley?

A tactic where players serve and then rush to the net with the aim of playing a winning volley off the opponent's return.

Answer to What is a lob?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:41:32 -0800

What is a lob?

A lob is a ball hit in a high arc, usually over the opponent's head. For the most part it is played when the opponent is standing at the net.

Answer to What is a drop shot?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:40:15 -0800

What is a drop shot?

A slice shot that stops very quickly and hardly bounces.

Answer to What is the WTA?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:36:53 -0800

What is the WTA?

Womens Tennis Association. The WTA are the governing body of the women's professional tennis circuit.

Answer to What is the ATP?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:36:17 -0800

What is the ATP?

Association of Tennis Professionals. The ATP are the governing body of the men's professional tennis circuit.

Answer to What is a grand slam?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:33:05 -0800

What is a grand slam?

To win all 4 of major tennis tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) in one season you are said to have won the Grand Slam. Therefore, the 4 major tournaments are also known as Grand Slam events.

Answer to What is a double fault?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:31:54 -0800

What is a double fault?

If the server fails to serve correctly on both 1st and 2nd serves this is called a Double Fault. The server then loses this point.

Answer to What is a break point?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:30:54 -0800

What is a break point?

The point in a game where the server risks losing his serve. For example, the score could be 30-40, 15-40, 40-Advantage, etc. When the server loses the Break Point, and therefore loses the game, this is termed a Service Break.

Answer to What is an advantage?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:29:14 -0800

What is an advantage?

The point being played after a Deuce. A player who has the Advantage and wins the next point wins the game.

Answer to What is an ace?

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 04:25:58 -0800

What is an ace?

Scoring a direct point with a service, the receiver does not touch the ball.

Answer to What is a cut?

Tue, 20 Jan 2004 07:11:17 -0800

What is a cut?

An attack made with a chopping motion of the blade, landing with the edge or point.

Answer to What is an en garde?

Tue, 20 Jan 2004 07:10:30 -0800

What is an en garde?

The stance that fencers assume when preparing to fence.