Word: football Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English fotbal, footbal, equivalent to foot + ball, because the ball was primarily manipulated with the feet in early versions of the game (though some modern varieties involve more handling than kicking). The name for the briefcase is a play on “dropkick”, the code name of an early version of the nuclear war plan. Pronunciation: /ˈfʊt.bɔːl/, [ˈfʊʔt̚bɔːl], [ˈfʊʔtʰbɔːl], [ˈfʊʔbɔːl], /ˈfʊt.bɔl/ 1. A sport played on foot in which teams attempt to get a ball into a goal or zone defended by the other team. Labels: countable, general, uncountable Example: Roman and medieval football matches were more violent than any modern type of football. Example: [page 104] [T]he Footeball play, […] could not poſſibly haue grovvne to this greatnes, that it is novv at, not haue bene ſo much vſed, as it is in all places, if it had not had great helpes, both to health and ſtrength, […] [page 105] [T]he Footeball ſtrengtheneth and bravvneth the vvhole body, and by prouoking ſuperfluities dovvnevvard, it diſchargeth the head, and vpper partes, it is good for the bovvells, and to driue dovvne the ſtone and grauell from both the bladder and kidneies. It helpeth vveake hammes, by much mouing, beginning at a meane, and ſimple ſhankes by thickening of the fleſh, no leſſe than riding doth. Yet raſh running & to much force oftẽtimes [oftentimes] breaketh ſome invvard cõduit [conduit], & bringeth ruptures. 2. The ball used in any game called "football". Labels: countable Example: The player kicked the football. Example: Hans Moleman Production presents: Man getting hit by football. 3. Association football, also called soccer: a game in which two teams each contend to get a round ball into the other team's goal primarily by kicking the ball. Labels: Africa, Caribbean, New-Zealand, South-Asia, UK, uncountable Example: Each team scored three goals when they played football. Example: “Our research has shown that heading is rare in youth football matches, so this guidance is a responsible development to our grassroots coaching without impacting the enjoyment that children of all ages take from playing the game.” 4. American football: a game played on a field 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide in which two teams of 11 players attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory. Labels: US, uncountable Example: Each team scored two touchdowns when they played football. Example: According to Newsday, he took the ball to his team’s equipment staff, which then informed head coach Chuck Pagano, who told general manager Ryan Grigson, who told NFL director of football operations Mike Kensil, who told the officials on the field. 5. Canadian football: a game played on a field 110 yards long and 65 yards wide in which two teams of 12 players attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory. Labels: Canada, uncountable Example: They played football in the snow. 6. Australian rules football. Labels: Australia, New-South-Wales, South, Southern, Tasmania, Western, uncountable Example: The weekend after AFL football chief Simon Lethlean made it clear players who jumper punched or punched opponents in the stomach would most likely be suspended, Jones was charged with striking Hawthorn’s Luke Breust. 7. Gaelic football: a field game played with similar rules to hurling, but using hands and feet rather than a stick, and a ball, similar to, yet smaller than a soccer ball. Labels: Ireland, uncountable 8. Any form of rugby. Labels: Australia, New-Zealand, countable, uncountable Example: There's another game of football and there's a gold team and Mum and Dad are both on it! 9. Any form of rugby. Labels: Australia, New-South-Wales, New-Zealand, uncountable 10. Any form of rugby. Labels: Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, uncountable 11. Practice of these particular games, or techniques used in them. Labels: uncountable Example: Both teams played open, attacking football and in the first thirty minutes, the referee barely blew his whistle. Example: Sloppy football continued after the first break, as the more composed Brunswick controlled the play by relying on the throw-pass: forty times to Williamstown's twenty-eight. 12. An item of discussion, particularly in a back-and-forth manner Labels: countable, figuratively Example: That budget item became a political football. 13. The leather briefcase containing classified nuclear war plans which is always near the US President. Labels: US, countable, slang Example: The aide rides, along with the president's physician, in the “control car,” third in line in the motorcade. He is responsible for the football (or “black box” or “black bag”), a briefcase containing the codes and targeting information the president would require to order or authorize a nuclear attack. Example: After the lunch broke, we walked to the Trump-Putin press conference, which started about 6 p.m. As Kelly observed to me at some point, there were now two military aides in the room, each carrying his country's nuclear football.