split end

American  

noun

Football.

split ends plural

1. an offensive end who lines up some distance outside the formation on the line of scrimmage as a pass receiver.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• split ends
  plural

Etymology

Origin of split end

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

split end

At halftime, the leading rusher was Pitts, the split end, who carried the ball only on the end-around plays that confused the Vikings.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 29, 2019

Starr hit Dowler with a long pass, and the 6-foot-5 split end stretched out to grab it on his fingertips, just out of reach of Mel Renfro.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 28, 2017

In his first 76 NFL games at split end, Rice, the NFL’s all-time leader in pass receptions, caught 346 balls for 6,284 yards.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 2, 2017

“I don’t remember Jim ever dropping a pass,” said Raymond Berry, the Colts’ Hall of Fame split end.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 16, 2015

On offense black athletes started at flanker, split end, and fullback.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger