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linebacker

linebacker

111 5.5
A defensive player in American football who stands behind the line to stop running plays and defend passes
  • noun
  • /ˈlaɪnˌbækər/
  • US
translation icon : linebacker
  • As a linebacker, he was responsible for stopping the opposing team's best running back.
  • play linebacker
  • middle linebacker
  • outside linebacker

It's just I used to be a linebacker in middle school.

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Examples

Compounds

An action when a defensive player quickly rushes the quarterback to tackle them or stop the play

Surface Forms

linebacker singular
linebackers plural

Morphology

linebacker = line + backer (semi-transparent) = line + backer

The components 'line' + 'backer' combine logically, but the specific football role requires domain knowledge of the sport.

Etymology

Linebacker comes from two simple words, line and back, so it literally names someone who 'backs' the defensive 'line'. A helpful image is a player standing just 'behind' the line to stop running plays or defend against passes, which is exactly what a linebacker does today.