dugout

Dugout refers to a shelter, dwelling, or workspace that is excavated or carved into the earth, typically partially or wholly underground. Such shelters have been used for habitation, storage, or protection in many cultures and contexts, including hillside shelters, trench-like structures, and temporary refuges during conflict. The form can range from simple shallow pits to more substantial rooms with entrances at ground level.

In addition to shelter, the term is also used for a type of watercraft: the dugout canoe. A dugout is created by hollowing out a log to form a hull, a technique that has been used worldwide since ancient times. Dugout canoes vary in size and are among the oldest riverine and coastal boats, used by Indigenous peoples in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

In sports, dugout refers to the seating area and sheltered bench where a team’s players and coaching staff sit during a game. In baseball, each team has a dugout along the first-base and third-base lines, offering seating, shade, and access to dugout facilities. The term has also been extended to similar bench areas in other sports.

Etymology: the word derives from digging out a hollow space or, in the canoe sense, from hollowing a log. The concept highlights human adaptation to environment, combat, and sport.