English

edit

Etymology

edit

From forehand +‎ -er.

Noun

edit

forehander (plural forehanders)

  1. (racquet sports) A shot played forehand.
  2. (surfing) A surfer who approaches a swell facing the wave ("on their forehand") rather than with the wave behind them ("on their backhand").
    • 1990, Surfer - Volume 31, Issues 7-12:
      The morning brought an increased swell; long, perfect, down-the-line, 6-8' freight trains — a forehander's dream and a backhanders nightmare
  3. (sailing) The crew member in charge of managing the foresail.
    • 1940, Roland Barker, Jonah's Ark, page 59:
      Then he heard the wailing cry of the forehander as the crowd manned the braces.
    • 1959, Tusitala, page 56:
      I had not been below ten minutes when I heard Mr. Hughes shouting orders; then there came the cries of the forehander, and the creaking of brace blocks, as the yards were trimmed once more.

Translations

edit