third man

American  

noun

1. Cricket.

   1. the position of a fielder on the off side between slip and point.

   2. the fielder occupying this position.

2. Lacrosse.

   1. the position of a player, first in the line of defense between center and goal.

   2. the player occupying this position.

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third man British  

noun

1. cricket

   1. a fielding position on the off side near the boundary behind the batsman's wicket

   2. a fielder in this position

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Etymology

Origin of third man

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The body of a third man, aged in his mid-50s, was found on the sand nearby and is yet to be formally identified.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

In fact, a third man also signed the three-page contract that launched the company on April 1, 1976: Ronald Wayne.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

The 24-year-old is aiming to become just the third man - after Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic - to capture all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

In the lawsuit, Valencia resident Parker Seitz alleged that off-duty deputies Randy Austin and Nicholas Hernandez, along with a third man attacked him outside a bar called the Break Room in late November 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

I learned later that Mrs. Thayer sat down with this third man of her Future at his detective agency, and she provided a full confession about her lover’s wicked deed.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan