Jump To:

• place kick
  place kick

  noun

  a kick in which the ball is held nearly upright on the ground either by means of a tee or by a teammate, as in a kickoff, an attempt at a field goal, etc.
• place-kick
  place-kick

  verb (used with object)

  to make (a field goal or point after touchdown) by a place kick.

place kick

¹ American  

noun

Football.

1. a kick in which the ball is held nearly upright on the ground either by means of a tee or by a teammate, as in a kickoff, an attempt at a field goal, etc.

---

place-kick ² American  

[pleys-kik] / ˈpleɪsˌkɪk /

Or placekick

verb (used with object)

1. to make (a field goal or point after touchdown) by a place kick.

2. to kick (the ball) as held for a place kick.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to make a place kick.

place kick British  

noun

1. a kick in which the ball is placed in position before it is kicked

---

verb

1. to kick (a ball) using a place kick

Other Word Forms

• place-kicker
  noun
• placekicker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of place kick¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Origin of place-kick²

First recorded in 1855–60; v. use of place kick

Example Sentences

The most famous place kick in Five Nations history was undoubtedly John Taylor's last-minute touchline effort for Wales to win a pulsating match against Scotland 19-18 at Murrayfield in 1971.

From The Guardian • Feb. 18, 2011

Dartmouth had scored 16 points on two touchdowns and a place kick.

From Time Magazine Archive

Illinois' Fullback Dave Cook broke a tug-of-war with Northwestern by a handsome place kick from the 22-yd. line, 3-to-0.

From Time Magazine Archive

With the score 7-to-7 and four minutes to play, Bill Corbus, Stanford's All-American guard, booted a place kick from the 23-yd. line over Southern California's goal posts.

From Time Magazine Archive

Numberless times he watched Lovelace taking the place kick.

From The Loom of Youth by Waugh, Alec