lineman

[lahyn-muhn]

noun

plural

linemen 

1. Also a person who installs or repairs telephone, telegraph, or other wires.

2. Football.,  one of the players in the line, as a center, guard, tackle, or end.

3. Surveying.,  a person who marks the positions of a survey mark with a range pole or the like.

lineman

/ ˈlaɪnmən /

noun

1. another name for platelayer

2. a person who does the chaining, taping, or marking of points for a surveyor

3. (formerly) the member of a beach life-saving team who controlled the line used to help drowning swimmers and surfers

4. American football a member of the row of players who start each down positioned on either side of the line of scrimmage

5. another word for linesman

Gender Note

See -man.

Other Word Forms

• underlineman noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lineman¹

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

Example Sentences

The offensive lineman from San Juan Hills High who is still considering the Bruins has developed an affinity for the place based on his many weekends spent on the sideline watching games.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There was a flicker of hope for them when, just before the trade deadline, they acquired lineman Trevor Penning from the New Orleans Saints.

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Long a major supporter of Texas Tech athletics—and a former offensive lineman for the Red Raiders—Campbell says that he began quietly studying the inner workings of college sports in 2021.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When Loyola High defensive lineman Andrew Hilton broke his fibula and suffered ligament damage to his ankle during the opening week of football practice last August, things looked bleak.

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The team traded for New Orleans offensive lineman Trevor Penning last week.

Read more on Los Angeles Times