SAFETY

I. noun (plural safeties) Etymology: Middle English saufte, from Anglo-French salveté, saufté, from salf safe Date: 14th century the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss, a device (as on a weapon or a machine) designed to prevent inadvertent or hazardous operation, 3. a. 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, 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, a billiard shot made with no attempt to score or so as to leave the balls in an unfavorable position for the opponent, base hit , II. transitive verb (safetied; ~ing) Date: 1927 to protect against failure, breakage, or accident