[safe.ty] n, pl safeties [ME saufte, fr. MF sauvete, fr. OF, fr. sauve, fem. of sauf safe] (14c) 1: the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss
2: a device (as on a weapon or a machine) designed to prevent inadvertent or hazardous operation 3 a (1): a situation in football in which a member of the offensive team is tackled behind its own goal line that counts two points for the defensive team--compare touchback (2): a member of a defensive backfield in football who occupies the deepest position in order to receive a kick, defend against a forward pass, or stop a ballcarrier b: a billiard shot made with no attempt to score or so as to leave the balls in an unfavorable position for the opponent c: base hit
[2]safety vt safe.tied ; safe.ty.ing (1940): to protect against failure, breakage, or accident "~ a rifle"