newcomb

N1E1W4C3O1M3B3
/ˈn(j)uːkəm/

noun

A sport that is a variation of volleyball, but in which one may catch the ball.

Similar
catchballNewcomb ball
OriginMiddle English neowecomen →
Less commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

newcomb1

nounnewcomb (uncountable)

alternative Newcomb

  1. uncountableA sport that is a variation of volleyball, but in which one may catch the ball.

    Synonyms: catchball, Newcomb ball

Newcomb2

proper nounNewcomb (countable and uncountable, plural Newcombs)

plural Newcombs · alternative Newcom

  1. countableuncountableA surname from Middle English.
  2. countableuncountableA suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
  3. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Talbot County, Maryland, United States.
  4. countableuncountableA census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States.
  5. countableuncountableA town in Essex County, New York, United States.
  6. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Campbell County, Tennessee, United States.
nounNewcomb (uncountable)

alternative Newcom

  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of newcomb (“sport resembling volleyball”).

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA sport that is a variation of volleyball, but in which one may catch the ball.

Similar
catchballNewcomb ball
Also see
newcomb ball

Origin

newcomb · noun

Named after Sophie Newcomb College, where it was invented.

Full word history & related roots →

Newcomb · proper noun, noun

  1. Middle Englishneowecomen“just arrived; newcomer”
  2. EnglishNewcomb

Nickname for a new arrival in a place, from Middle English neowecomen (“just arrived; newcomer”). The intrusive -b is the result of placenames ending in -combe, which is from combe (“wooded valley”).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

newcomb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/newcomb

MLA

“newcomb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/newcomb. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “newcomb,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/newcomb.

Source: newcomb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.