backlinen.
A line situated behind another or others; esp. in various games, a line marking the limit of play at the end of a court, field, etc.; also [back n.1 21] , a line of backs in football, etc. Cf. quot. 1806 at back adj. 1a.
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society > leisure > sport > place for sports or games > [noun] > line
line1550
trig1648
sideline1862
touchline1863
foul line1870
backline1890
trigger1891
centreline1920
by-line1936
stripe1967
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > formations
line-out1889
backline1960
three-quarter line1960
1890 H. W. W. Wilberforce in J. M. Heathcote et al. Tennis (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 260 He must be content to play a defensive game, and retire about a yard behind the back-line.
1960 T. McLean Kings of Rugby 122 Tries which set the whole of the Lions' backline clicking on all cylinders.
1963 Times 27 May 5/3 Ramsden, from his own backline, galloped the length of the [Polo] ground and scored a lovely goal in four confident hits.
1966 R. J. Mills & E. Butler Mod. Badminton v. 45 You must turn your right shoulder towards the backline.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.1890