inning

Back-formation from innings, mistaken to be plural of the time period, not the entries of the batters/batsmen.

• Rhymes: -ɪnɪŋ

inning (plural innings)

1. (baseball) A period of play in which members of a visiting baseball team attempt to hit a baseball pitched by the opposing home team until three players are called out, followed by a similar attempt by members of the home baseball team against the visiting team's pitching. There are nine or more innings in a regulation baseball game.

   It is a baseball tradition to sing "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch.

2. (softball) A similar period of play.

   We batted around in our half of the inning.

3. (billiards) A player (or team)'s turn at the table to make shots until ended by a miss or a foul.
4. A chance or opportunity to perform some deed or act.

   We are in just the second inning of our quest to enter this new market.

5. (obsolete) The gathering of a crop; harvesting.
   • Richarde Iugge, Anno Quinto Reginae Elizabethe:

     […] for the mowing, reaping, shering, getting or inning of corne, […]

6. (obsolete) Lands recovered from the sea.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ainsworth to this entry?)

• top : (baseball) (softball) first half of an inning
• bottom : (baseball) (softball) second half of an inning

inning m (plural innings)

1. (baseball) inning