bullpen

English

Etymology

From bull +‎ pen.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

bullpen (plural bullpens)

1. An enclosed area used to hold bulls.

   Coordinate term: cowpen

   Magnus and Big Dick are over in the bullpen, ready for tonight's rodeo.

2. (baseball) An enclosed area for pitchers to warm up in during a game.

   After that hit, there is activity in the bullpen.

   • 2017 May 7, Billy Witz, “Camaraderie of Wrigley Field Bullpens Is Tangled Amid the Ivy”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     Now the bullpens are hidden away underneath the bleachers, out of sight and sound.

   • 2024 July 5, Greg Jewett, “Bullpen report: Porter Hodge enters Cubs’ circle of trust, Mason Miller cools down and more”, in The New York Times‎^[3]:

     Even though the Phillies bullpen has been a strength, it may be shopping for a veteran capable of handling the ninth inning.

3. (baseball) The relief pitchers of a team collectively.

   Their bullpen is worn out after yesterday's doubleheader where both games went 12 innings.

4. (figurative) A place for someone or something to get ready.

   If this team of consultants fails, I have another warming up in the bullpen.

5. An open seating arrangement where project teams can communicate openly with minimal effort.

   We have our sales team in a bullpen setup to keep their energy flowing.

6. (US, military slang) A military prison or its enclosing stockade.

Derived terms

• rough up the bullpen

Translations

enclosed area to hold bulls

• Finnish: karsina (fi)
• French: toril (fr) m
• Spanish: toril

baseball: enclosed area for pitchers to warm up in during a game

• Japanese: ブルペン (burupen)

baseball: relief pitchers of a team collectively

• Finnish: vaihtosyöttäjät pl

metaphorical: figurative place to get ready

• Finnish: lähtökuopat

open seating arrangement in an office

• Dutch: kantoortuin (nl)
• Finnish: maisema (fi)

Spanish

Noun

bullpen m (plural bullpens)

1. (baseball) bullpen