Slangora

horsehide

Baseball slang for the ball itself, referring to the hide of a horse that was historically used to make the outer casing of baseballs before cowhide became standard in the mid-20th century.

ˈhɔɹsˌhaɪdDocumented since 1970s1970sBoomerhistorical148 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1974 · no dated citations yet
1974BornToday, 2026
Boomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →

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#1·Apr 28, 2026

Baseball slang for the ball itself, referring to the hide of a horse that was historically used to make the outer casing of baseballs before cowhide became standard in the mid-20th century. The term carries a pleasantly antiquated, golden-age-of-baseball feel, often used nostalgically or in sports writing that wants to evoke the game's long history. A pitcher delivering horsehide to the plate sounds more poetic than simply throwing the ball.

He'd been throwing horsehide since he was eight years old, and by sixteen the scouts were already taking notes.
Origin: Baseballs were originally covered with horsehide leather. Major League Baseball officially switched to cowhide covers in 1974, but horsehide remained the slang term long after the material changed. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

Hide of a horse.

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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(baseball, slang) A baseball.

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