mitt
UK: mɪt | US: mɪt
n. 1. A type of glove that covers the hand but has separate sections only for the thumb, leaving the other fingers together.
n. 2. (Slang) A hand, especially in phrases like "give me some mitt" (informal).
n. 3. (Baseball) A padded glove worn by catchers or first basemen.
The word "mitt" originated as a shortened form of "mitten," derived from Middle English "mitaine" (a glove with a thumb but no separate fingers), which came from Old French "mitaine." The Old French term likely traces back to Medieval Latin "mitana," meaning "half-glove." The core idea revolves around a hand-covering with minimal finger separation, reflecting practicality in cold climates or sports. Over time, "mitt" evolved to include slang and specialized uses (e.g., baseball).
She wore woolen mitts to keep her hands warm in the snow.
The catcher adjusted his mitt before signaling the pitcher.
"Give me your mitt—I’ll check for splinters," he said.
Vintage baseball mitts are prized by collectors.
The toddler lost one mitt while playing outside.