lineman

[ lahyn-muhn ]

noun

, plural line·men.

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. See platelayer
   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. See linesman
   another word for linesman

Gender Note

See -man.

Other Words From

• under·lineman noun plural underlinemen

Word History and Origins

Origin of lineman¹

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

Example Sentences

Along the way, he oversaw the draft selections of quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Ezekiel Ansah, orchestrated a trade of receiver Roy Williams that netted three picks, and led the Lions on two postseason runs.

From Washington Post

A veteran lineman is on the verge of landing a spot in the NFL history books.

From Washington Post

A timeline of Alex Smith’s remarkable comeback Washington entered intensive protocols after Matt Ioannidis, a defensive lineman on injured reserve, tested positive for the coronavirus.

From Washington Post

The play resulted in a 23-yard loss after one of his linemen recovered the loose ball, but it came close to being a catastrophic turnover.

From Washington Post

The Browns were so short on linemen that defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi blocked on the field goal team.

From Washington Post

“He was a good matchup,” Jones said of Brown, a defensive lineman for his high school football team.

From The Daily Beast

University of Missouri All-American defensive lineman and likely NFL draft pick Michael Sam is gay.

From The Daily Beast

Suppose the “best” football player was an offensive lineman for Youngstown State?

From The Daily Beast

So naturally it turned to a former college-football lineman.

From The Daily Beast

Citi is now betting the lineman can transform into a quarterback.

From The Daily Beast

A lineman was sent out to repair it under escort of civil guards, who were forced by the rebels to retire.

From Project Gutenberg

You can make a lineman's holster in the same way, using plastic or soft leather.

From Project Gutenberg

Drew turned toward Stockbridge as the lineman shuffled through the portires.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a lineman for a telegraph company, healthy and strong, used to open-air life and hard work.

From Project Gutenberg

"Anybody ought to know it 'thout being told, you old Rube," growled the lineman, who was from Boggs City.

From Project Gutenberg