Word
halfback
Phoneticshalf·back
US/ˈhæfˌbæk/
UK/hˈɑːfbæk/
Definition
n. a player in American football or rugby who plays in the middle of the field. They help the team move the ball forward and protect the quarterback.
n. a player in American football or rugby who occupies a position in the middle of the field. In American football, they are typically responsible for blocking and protecting the quarterback; in rugby, they are part of the backline.
Examples
“The halfback caught the ball and ran toward the goal.”
“The team's halfback is known for his speed and ability to break through the defensive line.”
“In modern rugby, the halfback must possess both the tactical intelligence to direct the play and the physical stamina to support the forwards during the initial scrum.”
Examples
simple
“The halfback caught the ball and ran toward the goal.”
contextual
“The team's halfback is known for his speed and ability to break through the defensive line.”
complex
“In modern rugby, the halfback must possess both the tactical intelligence to direct the play and the physical stamina to support the forwards during the initial scrum.”
Etymology
From half + back, in reference to position on the field of play; compare fullback. In the sense of someone who moves to Florida and then to a more temperate climate, from moving "half way back"
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/halfback