What is the origin of the word ‘silly’, as used by cricketers to note a field position?
‘silly’, as applied to a person means ‘daft’ but how did ‘silly mid on’ get its name. Is it a daft place to field?
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Cricket. (of a fielder or the fielder's playing position) extremely close to the batsman's wicket: silly mid off.
[Origin: 1375–1425; earlier sylie, sillie foolish, feeble-minded, simple, pitiful; late ME syly, var. of sely seely]