In the absence of any over-arching rebel military leadership, there is no one to referee disputes before they get out of hand.
During the heated contest versus Big Piney, Kane tells us that even the referee told him, “You guys are nothing but filthy slobs.”
The chants grew so loud that the referee wanted to stop the game.
An inquiry headed by the Police Ombudsman, a sort of referee figure, came down against the informer allegation.
I remember my coach standing up to a referee and another coach who challenged my right to play.
I found him dejectedly studying an ancient copy of the "referee."
When forty love had been scored against me I appealed to the referee.
If the boat is upset the referee's canoe helps them to right.
It was like the tap of the bell for a twenty-round go with the referee missin'.
It's been put up to me to keep time an' referee this mix-up, and I don't want no help.
1620s, "person who examines patent applications" (see refer). Sporting use recorded by 1820 (specifically of baseball from 1856).
1883, originally colloquial, from referee (n.). Related: Refereed; refereeing.
