hit \hit\, n.
   1. a striking against; the collision of one body against
      another; the stroke that touches anything.
      1913 webster

            so he the famed cilician fencer praised,
            and, at each hit, with wonder seems amazed.
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

   2. a stroke of success in an enterprise, as by a fortunate
      chance; as, he made a hit; esp. a performance, as a
      musical recording, movie, or play, which achieved great
      popularity or acclaim; also used of books or objects of
      commerce which become big sellers; as, the new notebook
      computer was a big hit with business travellers.
      1913 webster +pjc

            what late he called a blessing, now was wit,
            and god's good providence, a lucky hit. --pope.

   3. a peculiarly apt expression or turn of thought; a phrase
      which hits the mark; as, a happy hit.
      1913 webster

   4. a game won at backgammon after the adversary has removed
      some of his men. it counts less than a gammon.
      1913 webster

   5. baseball a striking of the ball; as, a safe hit; a foul
      hit; -- sometimes used specifically for a base hit.
      1913 webster

   6. an act of murder performed for hire, esp. by a
      professional assassin.
      pjc

   base hit, safe hit, sacrifice hit. baseball see under
      base, safe, etc.
see also:
gammon base hit base hit safe hit sacrifice hit base 
safe 

safe \safe\, a. compar. safer; superl. safest. oe. sauf,
   f. sauf, fr. l. salvus, akin to salus health, welfare,
   safety. cf. salute, salvation, sage a plant, save,
   salvo an exception.
   1. free from harm, injury, or risk; untouched or unthreatened
      by danger or injury; unharmed; unhurt; secure; whole; as,
      safe from disease; safe from storms; safe from foes. "and
      ye dwelled safe." --1 sam. xii. 11.
      1913 webster

            they escaped all safe to land.        --acts xxvii.
                                                  44.
      1913 webster

            established in a safe, unenvied throne. --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. conferring safety; securing from harm; not exposing to
      danger; confining securely; to be relied upon; not
      dangerous; as, a safe harbor; a safe bridge, etc. "the man
      of safe discretion." --shak.
      1913 webster

            the king of heaven hath doomed
            this place our dungeon, not our safe retreat.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   3. incapable of doing harm; no longer dangerous; in secure
      care or custody; as, the prisoner is safe.
      1913 webster

            but banquo's safe?
            ay, my good lord, safe in a ditch he bides. --shak.
      1913 webster

   safe hit baseball, a hit which enables the batter to get
      to first base even if no error is made by the other side.
      1913 webster

   syn: secure; unendangered; sure.
        1913 webster
see also:
safer safest salute salvation sage save 
salvo safe hit