centremancentermann.
/ˈsɛntəmən/, U.S. /ˈsɛn(t)ərmən/ 1. Chiefly U.S. With reference to blackface minstrels: = middleman n. 4 (cf. end-man n. 1, corner-man n. 1). Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > variety, etc. > performers in variety, etc. > [noun] > black minstrel > performing specific part
zip coon1833
Jim Crow1835
centreman1870
middleman1870
interlocutor1880
tambo1884
1870 Fort Wayne Daily Democrat (Indiana) 5 Mar. Most of the members of the Newcomb troupe are old and well-known favorites in Fort Wayne, and especially Gulick, the inimitable centerman.
1892 Middlesex Gaz. 12 Nov. 6/5 Mr. Adams occupied the position of centreman.
1908 Bystander 20 May 377/1 Herkomer's minstrel troupe—Poynter, as centerman, asking a riddle—is the only thing you can really and truly fix on to.
1939 ‘J. Knickerbocker’ Then & Now xxxi. 380 Wambold as the center man was possessed of a superb—not powerful—high baritone voice.
1997 S. Gubar Racechanges 269 The center man, called the interlocutor and sometimes remaining in whiteface, engaged the end men..in comic routines.
2. In various team sports (esp. Ice Hockey): a player who occupies a central position in a team formation (cf. centre n.1 17b).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > characteristics of team ball games > [noun] > players or positions
wing-back1734
goalkeeper1789
outfielder1855
quarter1857
centre fielder1865
outfield1867
quarterback1867
right1867
centre1868
left wing1871
left-back1873
left half-back1873
centre forward1874
left-centre1877
right-centre1877
centre back1878
centre half-back1879
forward1879
back1880
right wing1880
right half-back1881
goaltender1882
right-winger1882
wing1882
centre half1884
left winger1884
inside1886
half1887
custodian1888
left half1888
midfielder1888
left wing1889
right half1889
centreman1890
midfield1890
outside right1890
outfieldsman1891
goalie1894
winger1896
infield1897
inside forward1897
inside right1897
outside forward1897
outside1898
outside left1900
rearguard1904
pivot1911
wing-man1942
keeper1957
link1958
linkman1963
midfield1976
1890 Manitoba Daily Free Press 9 Oct. 4/4 Lewis, as centreman for the home team, played in fine form.
1920 W. Camp Football without Coach 107 If any of these three center men lunges through..he opens the door on either side of him.
1973 J. Dunn How to play Football 18 Centremen usually are among the best players in the team.
2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Nov. c19/6 With our system, there's no difference between the wings and the centermen after the draw.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1870