[Ads-l] Request from sports writer for origin of a new sports term

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The first step is to gather some raw data. The entries on Urban
Dictionary are often helpful; however, some entries are gags.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pissmissile

[Begin raw data from urban dictionary]
Pissmissle
When the chosen one hits a slap shot so hard it breaks the goalies
hand and soul as it goes through the net, in hockey. It is usually
Sgt. Slickwrister and especially Capt. Pissmissle who accomplishes
this task.
P.K. Subban launches a pissmissle into the net!
Pissmissle by PIKEcritter July 21, 2018

Piss Missile
In sports, whether it be baseball/football/hockey what have you, when
someone crushes a homer, launches a 60 yard touchdown pass or nets a
goal from the blue line on a one timer. Anything that gets an absolute
fucking SEND in sports.
“Billy is fighting a 1-2 count right now, the pitcher delivers, AND
BILLY HITS AN ABSOLUTE PISS MISSILE TO CENTER FIELD THAT BABY IS LONG
GONE!!!!!”
Piss Missile by @99fordwindstar August 10, 2018

Piss Missile
Noun: a piss missile is a term most commonly used in baseball,
referring to when a hitter absolutely shits on a pitch and lines the
ball for a single, double, or even a triple.
Holy shit! Their three hole guy just hit a piss missile off his fastball
Piss Missile by SuperLMH July 21, 2020

Piss missile
A stupidly fast motorcycle
Watch out for that piss missile lane-splitting down the highway. He's
gotta be doing over 140
Piss missile by The fastest boi June 20, 2022
[End raw data from urban dictionary]

Here is some raw data from twitter. The meaning of "piss missile" is
not always clear in these tweets. The term emerged in 2014 and 2015.

[Begin raw data from xtwitter - chronological order]
https://x.com/jessyrrutter/status/426897912095076352
Jessy Rutter @jessyrrutter
@bryanwhitsel thank you piss missile! Cats all around!
9:02 PM, Jan 24, 2014

https://x.com/roseIeaf/status/490370735219953664
sarah @roseIeaf
whenver i think of shit spewing hippitaly i think of fucking amazing
ameritoilet where italy is a spinning piss missile
1:41 AM, Jul 19, 2014

https://x.com/BuddyWatkins13/status/505667325174235136
Buddy BallGAME @BuddyWatkins13
You missed piss missiles tonight @srick22
6:44 AM · Aug 30, 2014

https://x.com/Stlcards75/status/506192633589288962
Mr. Allday @Stlcards75
Take that piss missile!!! #STLCards that a boy #holliday
5:31 PM, Aug 31, 2014

https://x.com/JohnnyWatts9/status/506996835358367744
Johnny Watts @JohnnyWatts9
Piss missile lets go JD
10:47 PM, Sep 2, 2014

https://x.com/Talket88/status/510534076185341952
DoubleEights88 @Talket88
I feel so bad for all the goalies in the Atlantic region. Piss
missiles going bar MEXICO all day . The…
http://instagram.com/p/s3B4gRSrTx/
5:03 PM · Sep 12, 2014

https://x.com/JustinYingst/status/515299635167244289
Justin Yingst @JustinYingst
Our punters got a piss-missile on him -
@GriffinK60
8:39 PM, Sep 25, 2014

https://x.com/J_Craig02/status/526270646180143105
Jordan Craig @J_Craig02
That is definitely a back spin piss missile! https://vine.co/v/OZeYDzHwZXh
3:14 AM, Oct 26, 2014

https://x.com/desandick/status/534546271537987584
john @desandick
I want a pocket passer that audibles out of bad situations and throws
piss missiles to the sidelines.
10:18 PM · Nov 17, 2014

https://x.com/H_Suther29/status/578376216253726721
Harley Sutherland @H_Suther29
Just went threw the Taco Bell drive thur and there was busted glass
everywhere must be from that piss missile my dude @Dillon_Clift4 hit😏
10:03 PM, Mar 18, 2015

https://x.com/12aLINK/status/585178231810195456
Ricky LaFleur @12aLINK
Fucking piss missile from Hanley
4:32 PM, Apr 6, 2015
[End raw data from xtwitter]

Garson O'Toole

On Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 7:13 PM Cohen, Gerald L. <gcohen at mst.edu> wrote:
>
> Dear  ADS-L members,
>
> Today I received a request from a sports writer
> for information about a new sports term.
> Would anyone on our listserv be able to
> shed any light on its origin?
> His email to me is reprinted below
> my signoff.
>
> Gerald Cohen
>
> [Email I received:]]
>
> Hi Dr. Cohen,
> This is Jeff Eisenberg with Yahoo Sports. I am
> reaching out because I was hoping you
> might be able to help me with a very unusual
> story idea. During the NFL game yesterday
> between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders, Tom Brady described a Dak
> Prescott throw as an absolute piss missile.<https://x.com/TopTierStateX/status/2101814002565173291>
> The ensuing social media conversation got
> me thinking: What is the origin of the phrase
> piss missile?
> How did that become an expression used to
> describe a long home run, a cannon-armed pass or a laser slap shot?
> Do you have any idea of how this term came to be? Or any suggestions on how I might go about investigating that? Totally understand if the answer is no, but I figured I would reach out to a handful of people to see if they might be able to point me in the right direction.
>
> Thanks very much for your help,
>
> Jeff Eisenberg
> Yahoo Sports
> Features Writer
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org