# crossplay
## English
### Pronunciation

* Audio (US):(file)

### Etymology 1

From cross- +‎ play.

#### Noun

crossplay (uncountable)
* (engineering) The ability to record data with one device and play back the data on a different, compatible device.
** 1993, Airborne Reconnaissance, volume 16, Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, →ISBN, page 52:The problem with the crossplay of plastic-based (Mylar) tape is that it's pliable; any difference in temperature or mechanical stress, induced by various transports, will distort track patterns recorded on the compliant tape.
* (linguistics) Subordinate communication between participants in a conversation.
** 2008, Yumiko Tateytama, Gabrielle Kasper, “Talking with a Classroom Guest”, in Eva Alcon Soler, Alicia Martinez-Flor, editors, Investigating Pragmatics in Foreign Language Learning, Teaching and Testing, Multilingual Matters, →ISBN, page 63:Although in all three events the requests were performed in front of and for the benefit of the student audience as intended bystanders, the crossplay observed in the guest-student episode was absent from the guest-teacher interactions.
* (video games) Cross-platform multiplayer functionality.

##### Related terms

* (communication): byplay, sideplay

### Etymology 2

Blend of cross-dressing +‎ cosplay

#### Noun

crossplay (uncountable)
* (cosplay) A form of cosplay in which one dresses up as a character of the opposite sex.
** 2001 May 22, Wednesday, “Re: 'There are only 500 REAL anime fans in the UK'”, in uk.media.animation.anime‎ (Usenet), message-ID <-6y*A5OWo@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>:Incidentally, I'm not sure you're bucking the trend so much as going along with it; FTM crossplay is getting pretty popular, although you see more women going for bishounen and visual-kei genderfucky stars than anything else.
** 2006, Theresa Winge, “Costuming the Imagination”, in Frenchy Lunning, editor, Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga, volume 1, University of Minnesota Press, →ISBN, page 71:Crossplay is where a cosplayer employs gender reversal (i.e., a female who dresses as a male character or vice versa).
** 2014, Catherine Thomas, “'Love to Mess with Minds': En(gendering) Identities Through Crossplay”, in Ben Bolling, Matthew J. Smith, editors, It Happens at Comic-Con: Ethnographic Essays on a Pop Culture Phenomenon, McFarland, →ISBN, page 37:At CCI, where a large number of people cosplay, crossplay becomes a mode to "stand out."

##### Derived terms

* crossplayer

##### See also

* drag
* genderbending
* genderbender
* genderbend
* genderbent
* Rule 63

#### Verb

crossplay (third-person singular simple present crossplays, present participle crossplaying, simple past and past participle crossplayed)
* (intransitive) To cosplay as a character of the opposite sex.
** 2001 May 6, Lauren Michelle, “Site for 2001 AnimeNorth AFSM meeting?”, in alt.fan.sailor-moon‎ (Usenet):[Replying to: "Really, I'll be wearing a costume as well...] Me too...but I won't be crossplaying...
* (transitive) To cosplay as (a character of the opposite sex).
** 2003 October 7, Vince Lamb, “Japanese Manga and Anime Take Over America from Pacific News Service”, in rec.arts.anime.misc‎ (Usenet):BTW, one can be a touch hefty and pull off Urd. You don't even have to be a woman. A *guy* crossplayed Urd at C-Kon and won the cosplay contest!
* (intransitive) To roleplay as a character of the opposite sex, especially in a MUD.
** 1992 May 26, Scott Goehring, “cross-gendered players”, in rec.games.mud‎ (Usenet):Admittedly, BruceMud attracted more than its usual share of weenies, but as a female wizard I received even more attention for being female than I did on most other sites. Note that it wasn't exactly a secret that I was crossplaying. I seem to recall Random bitching at Julia for reporting that I was female on more than one occasion.