lineman
(ˈlaɪnmən)
[f. line n.2 + man.]
1. A man employed to attend to the condition of a railway, telegraph, or telephone line.
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Linemen, men employed on a railway. 1876 Preece & Sivewright Telegraphy 138 The lineman placed in charge of a length by road must walk his length. 1890 Daily News 5 Feb. 6/1 While a line⁓man was repairing an electric wire..he received an electric shock. |
2. One who carries the line in surveying.
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Linemen,..persons carrying the measuring line for a surveyor. |
3. A line fisherman.
| 1890 in Century Dict. |
4. Amer. and Canad. Football. A forward.
| 1907 St. Nicholas Sept. 1013/2 There was some discussion last year as to whether a line man could run from his position in the line and take the ball from the quarter. 1913 Collier's 13 Dec. 27/1 He was an aggressive, hard-fighting, and alert lineman, who did his best work under fire. 1959 Times 30 Nov. (Canada Suppl.) p. xx/2 There are five back-fielders and seven linemen. 1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 35/5 The linemen and linebackers are all experienced. 1971 New Yorker 15 May 54/3 He was a forward, or lineman, in Rugby. 1972 Nature 2 June 297/3 Our manuscript read ‘linemen’, a designation for American football players who crouch in a line with hands on the ground prior to the attack. |