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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of linesman

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

Example Sentences

The defensive linesman then fumbled the ball and Hurts gathered it up, only to then lose the ball again when he was tackled.

From BBC

Binnington, who took the historic puck from Ovechkin's goal and pocked it before a linesman retrieved it from him, was pulled after surrendering four goals in just under 30 minutes.

From Barron's

On commentary for Sky Sports on the night of 6 September 1995 was Martin Tyler, who initially thought the referee's whistle must have gone - after all, the linesman put his flag up - but play continued.

From BBC

"In, out... there's no mistake, nothing happening. Definitely you've got to feel for those linesmen and those people. That's a bit tough for them, but it's pretty black or white with the calling."

From BBC

"When the computer makes a decision, you have no one to point the finger at. It's more of a guess. I don't know how the linesman makes a conclusive decision."

From BBC