bullpen

English

From bull +‎ pen.

bullpen (plural bullpens)

An enclosed area used to hold bulls.
Coordinate term: cowpen

Magnus and Big Dick are over in the bullpen, ready for tonight's rodeo.
(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.
(baseball) The relief pitchers of a team collectively.
Their bullpen is worn out after yesterday's doubleheader where both games went 12 innings.
(figurative) A place for someone or something to get ready.
If this team of consultants fails, I have another warming up in the bullpen.
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.
(US, military slang) A military prison or its enclosing stockade.^[1]

enclosed area to hold bulls

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

baseball: relief pitchers of a team collectively

metaphorical: figurative place to get ready

open seating arrangement in an office

^ Lighter, Jonathan (1972) “The Slang of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, 1917-1919: An Historical Glossary”, in American Speech‎^[1], volume 47, number 1/2, page 24

bullpen m (plural bullpens)