linesman

American  

[lahynz-muhn] / ˈlaɪnz mən /

noun

plural

linesmen

1. Sports.

   1. an official, as in tennis and soccer, who assists the referee.

   2. Football. an official who marks the distances gained and lost in the progress of play and otherwise assists the referee and field judge.

   3. Ice Hockey. either of two officials who assist the referee by watching for icing, offside, and substitution violations and fouls and by conducting face-offs.

2. lineman.

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linesman British  

/ ˈlaɪnzmən /

noun

1. an official who helps the referee or umpire in various sports, esp by indicating when the ball has gone out of play

2. US and Canadian name: lineman.  a person who installs, maintains, or repairs telephone or electric-power lines

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Etymology

Origin of linesman

First recorded in 1855–60; line ¹ + 's ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

Linesman Andrew Smith was helped off the ice midway through the first period after being hit by the puck.

From Fox News • Nov. 21, 2021

Linesman Steve Miller was helped off the ice late in the game .

From Seattle Times • Nov. 2, 2019

Linesman leaves on a stretcher: Linesman Steve Barton went down with an apparent left knee injury with 48 seconds remaining in the second period and had to be carried off the ice.

From Washington Post • Apr. 15, 2018

NOTES: Linesman Greg Devorski left with an illness, and the game finished with one linesmen and two referees.

From Washington Times • Jan. 9, 2018

Those days over, he enters the arena as Umpire, Referee or Linesman.

From Football Days Memories of the Game and of the Men behind the Ball by Edwards, William Hanford