head linesperson
- noun
- /hɛd ˈlaɪnzˌpɜrsən/
- US
:
juez de línea principal
- It's the head linesperson's responsibility to keep accurate track of the chains during the game.
Examples
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The head linesperson signaled that the play resulted in a first down.
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The head linesperson called for a measurement to determine if the team had achieved a first down.
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She was appointed as the first female head linesperson in the league's history.
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The head linesperson signaled the end of the play.
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During the game, the head linesperson kept track of the yardage.
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The head linesperson accurately recorded the yardage gained on each play during the match.
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As the head linesperson, he ensured the chain crew was positioned correctly throughout the game.
Synonyms
A woman official in American football who records how many yards a team gains or loses
An official who watches the line where play starts and records yards gained or lost
Surface Forms
Morphology
head + linesperson
The meaning is directly built from 'head' (leader) + 'linesperson' (a person associated with the lines/chain crew), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer this is the leader or chief of the lines crew who records yardage. Although 'linesperson' is an uncommon form, it is transparently analyzable as 'lines' + 'person' and follows common head-of-role compounding patterns found across languages.
Etymology
The noun head linesperson comes from the sideline scene in American football: the linesperson watches the yard lines and the measuring chains, and the head is the one in charge. So, the head linesperson is the official who keeps track of the 'yardage' and leads the chain crew, which is why the name fits the job.
