all-comersadj.n.
/ˌɔːlˈkʌməz/, U.S. /ˈɔlˌkəmərz/ A. adj.
Of, belonging to, or designating a sporting event which anyone may enter.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [adjective] > types of
maiden1598
well-run1601
unequal1654
well contested1722
returned1758
friendly1780
close-run1813
foursome1814
lightweight1823
tight1828
side1829
one-sided1839
scratch1851
international1859
all-comers1860
scrub1867
pointless1876
scoreless1885
replayed1886
peg-down1887
all-star1889
stiff1890
varsity1891
postseason1893
knock-out1896
best-of-(a specified odd number)1897
seeded1901
junior varsity1902
Simon Pure1905
pegged-down1908
JV1923
zero-sum1944
tie-breaking1970
1860 Observer 8 July 5/4 The competition for these three prizes was restricted to the winners of the ‘all comers’ series.
1883 Illustr. Sporting & Dramatic News 6 Jan. 407/3 Laycock managed to secure a win in the All-comers Sculling Race.
1890 C. G. Heathcote Lawn Tennis in J. M. Heathcote et al. Tennis (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iv. 170 At Wimbledon Mr. Lawford..won the All Comers prize.
1921 Amer. Lawn Tennis 1 July 182 The gala program included..eight events, the most important of which was the All-Comers men's singles.
1997 Courier-Mail (Queensland) 18 July 3/2 Last night she broke the Australian all-comers short-course record for the 200m butterfly.
2003 Rowing News 5 Oct. 34/2 This all-comers race offers the full gamut of conditions.
B. n.
A sporting event which anyone may enter. Cf. open n. 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > types of
all comersc1450
after-gamea1500
fore-game1594
revenge1616
plate1639
set-to1743
return match1753
bye1754
scrub-race1791
anybody's game (also race, match)1826
return1834
barney1843
bonspiel1858
handicap1861
pennant1865
home-and-home1868
benefit match1871
run-off1873
international1877
American tournament1878
Grand Prix1879
single1884
friendly1885
all-comers1889
pair1890
championship1893
round robin1894
replay1895
Olympiad1896
junior varsity1902
lightning tournament1903
rematch1903
road trip1903
pickup1905
freestyle1906
marathon1908
test1908
Derby1909
scrimmage1910
eliminator1911
twosome1911
triala1914
quadrangular1916
slug-fest1916
varsity match1921
needle contest1922
curtain jerker1923
needle match1923
open1926
needle fight1927
knock-out1928
shirt1930
masters1933
pro-amateur1934
tune-up1934
World Cup1934
pro-am1937
state1941
sizzler1942
runathon1943
mismatch1954
run-out1955
match-up1959
squeaker1961
triple-header1961
Super Bowl1967
invitational1968
needle game1970
major1976
slobberknocker1986
1889 Times of India 26 Aug. 7/5 The four-handed championship, in which the entry for the all-comers was distinctly poor.
1920 Standard 10 July 41/1 He entered the All-Comers for the English Championship.
1990 F. Van R. Phelps in J. N. Burstyn Past & Promise (1997) 173/2 She won the all-comers and challenged..the stand-out champion.
2012 Eastern Daily Press (Norwich) (Nexis) 6 Sept. (Sport section) He won the All Comers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.1860