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lineman

[lahyn-muh n]
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noun, plural line·men.
  1. Also linesman. 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.
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Origin of lineman

First recorded in 1855–60; line1 + -man
Related formsun·der·line·man, noun, plural un·der·line·men.

Usage note

See -man.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

juicer, wireman, lineman, linesman

Examples from the Web for lineman

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The lineman snorted and the operator saw that his appeal had fallen flat.

    The Mountain Divide

    Frank H. Spearman

  • It was only after a moment 92 that the lineman could be seen to gain.

    The Mountain Divide

    Frank H. Spearman

  • Down these the lineman, stubborn and bleeding, drove a desperate way.

    The Mountain Divide

    Frank H. Spearman

  • "I'll need a long rope," Neale had said to King, his lineman.

  • "I'll inform you later," replied Neale, turning to the lineman.

British Dictionary definitions for lineman

lineman

noun plural -men
  1. another name for platelayer
  2. a person who does the chaining, taping, or marking of points for a surveyor
  3. Australian and NZ (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. US and Canadian another word for linesman (def. 2)
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for lineman

n.

1858, worker on telegraph (later telephone) lines, from line (n.) + man (n.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper