Shaughnessy playoff

noun

Shaugh·​nes·​sy playoff

ˈshȯnəsē-,

-si-

: a playoff among the top four teams of a league (as in minor league baseball and ice hockey) in which team one usually plays team three, team two plays team four, and the two winners play each other

Word History

Etymology

after Francis J. Shaughnessy,, born 1883 American baseball official

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!