face-off

[feys-awf, -of]

noun

Ice Hockey.

1. the act of facing the puck, as at the start of a game or period.

2. an open confrontation.

face-off

noun

1. ice hockey the method of starting a game, in which the referee drops the puck, etc between two opposing players

2. a confrontation

verb

1. to start play by (a face-off)

Word History and Origins

Origin of face-off¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase face off