linesman

line +‎ -s- +‎ -man

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linesman (plural linesmen)

1. (soccer) An assistant referee.
   • 2015 November 18, “Steven Pattison: Carlisle United director runs line in FA Youth Cup”, in BBC Sport‎:

     A linesman replaced injured referee Rebecca Welch after 50 minutes and with no other official present, qualified referee Pattison, 60, ran the line.

   • 2015 November 13, “Western Sydney Wanderers romp to victory at hapless Melbourne City”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎:

     As the linesman raised his flag, Neville played on, crossing for Piovaccari to net.

2. (tennis, dated) A male line judge.
3. (ice hockey) An official whose primary task is to watch the blue line and determine when there has been an offside.
4. (American football) An official whose primary task is to determine whether there has been a line of scrimmage violation.
5. A person employed to work on electrical lines; a lineman.
6. (military) A private in the line.

• In soccer, the term assistant referee has replaced linesman in official contexts and is preferred by gender-neutral prescription, though linesman remains in common use.
• In tennis, the term linesman is considered dated because not all line judges are male.

• head linesman

• lineman
• lino

• Lemnians, melanins