outcourt

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaʊtkɔː(ɹ)t/

Etymology 1

From out +‎ court.

Noun

outcourt (plural outcourts)

1. An outer or exterior court.
   • 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:

     the skirts and outcourts of heaven

   • 1852, Agnes Strickland, Lives of the Queens of Scotland and English Princesses, page 52:

     There is an outcourt or quadrant, whereof one side is a gallery to walk in, being in length six hundred feet.

   • 1890, Ford's Christian Repository & Home Circle, page 416:

     If it is made up of those who shall persevere in holiness to the end of life, and be saved with an everlasting salvation, the church on earth being, as it werre, the outcourt and emblem of the church in heaven, and the church militant composed of those who shall form the church triumphant, then infants have properly no place in it.

   • 1912, William Richard Harris, Pioneers of the Cross in Canada, page 131:

     About the middle of June, 1642, the Residence of the Fathers at St. Marys-on-the-Wye, its outcourt and surrounding buildings, slept in dreamy, peaceful slumber.

2. (basketball, handball) The other half of the court from the goal one is aiming for.
   • 1951, Blair Gullion, Techniques and Tactics of Basketball Defense, page 60:

     Offensive player in the middle of the outcourt receives a pass from one of his teammates.

   • 1992, Gordon M. Brewer, --But how You Played the Game!: 1862-1955, page 169:

     For Calvin it was Rog Postmus with 18, mostly from outcourt, Duane Rosendahl with 16, Stu Sisco with 15, and Preston "Butts" Kool had 10.

   • 1970, William Albert Healey, Joseph W. Hartley, Ten Great Basketball Offenses, page 132:

     […] shows that all shots are taken from outcourt, this is not necessarily true because it is possible, by reversing direction, for the dribbler to catch his guard overplaying him and drive in for a layup.

Adjective

outcourt (not comparable)

1. (basketball, handball) Playing or played on the outcourt.
   • 1883, “College Sports”, in The Occident, page 244:

     Special mention is due Abadie, 03, Heyman, 04, whose outcourt playing is excellent, and Roos, '04, who has shown good judgment in placing the ball.

   • 1969, Robert J. Buck, The Shuffle and Press Offense for High School Basketball, page 29:

     The middle man normally will be the outcourt defensive man, away from the rebound.

   • 1970, William Albert Healey, Joseph W. Hartley, Ten Great Basketball Offenses, page 132:

     It should also be remembered that the outcourt shots are all taken from behind the screen.

   • 2018, Ace Banking And Static Awareness, page 273:

     Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team.

2. (law) Occurring outside the courtroom; adjudicated outside of a trial.
   • 1997, Tunisia Insight, page 9:

     As Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat apologises for having published the claims originally published by The Sunday Telegraph regarding Mr. Rached Ghannouchi who has won a court case against the paper. It publishes this clarification in its insistance upon objective truth and the rights of readers and of Mr. Ghannouchi, after having reached an outcourt settlement with Mr. Ghannouchi, and expresses its regret for what the news item has caused him.

Adverb

outcourt (not comparable)

1. (basketball, handball) On the outcourt.
   • 1946, Athletic Journal - Volume 27, page 22:

     Many coaches are of the opinion that high school teams attempt too many rebound shots but would profit by dribbling or passing the ball outcourt more often and starting their offensive attack over again.

   • 1953, Leon E. Burgoyne, Jack Davis, Forward, page 52:

     Jack felt a warm glow of pride as he watched his brother smoothly carry the ball outcourt and then turn to drive in with flashing legs and lace the leather through the net.

Etymology 2

From out- (“surpass”) +‎ court.

Verb

outcourt (third-person singular simple present outcourts, present participle outcourting, simple past and past participle outcourted)

1. (transitive) To woo or court in a better, more successful or more assiduous manner.
   • 1914, Sol Smith Russel, “The Proposal”, in The Speaker's Garland and Literary Bouquet, volume 1, page 134:

     I came of a very robust family; I'll agree now to outcourt any two girls in this town if you give me likely material—a-hem!

   • 1982, Roy Wilkins, Tom Mathews, Standing Fast: The Autobiography of Roy Wilkins - Volume 10, page 79:

     I knew from the beginning that I would have to move fast to keep Minnie to myself. Kansas City was full of rakehell bachelors, all of whom I had to outcourt.

   • 2004, Jude Deveraux, Lost Lady, page 236:

     Any American can outcourt any weakling Englishman.

   • 2014, Bill Nye, Corey S. Powell, Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation:

     It shows the peahens that the peacock is strong. And it shows other males that this peacock can outstrut, outfly, outcourt, and generally outcompete them.