lineman

[lahyn-muh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lineman ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural line·men.

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

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

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

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. 2019

Related Words for lineman

juicer, wireman, linesman

Examples from the Web for lineman

Contemporary Examples of lineman

Citi is now betting the lineman can transform into a quarterback.
Citi's Parade of CEOs
Daniel Gross
October 22, 2012
A former Colgate University lineman, Rooney was a pugnacious GI who had trouble keeping his lips zipped.
The Story of the American Journalists Who Landed on D-Day
Timothy M. Gay
June 6, 2012

Historical Examples of lineman

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.
The U.P. Trail
Zane Grey
"I'll inform you later," replied Neale, turning to the lineman.
The U.P. Trail
Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for lineman

lineman

noun plural -men

another name for platelayer

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

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

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

US and Canadian another word for linesman (def. 2)

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

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