ˈlīnzmən noun
( plural linesmen )
Etymology: line's (gen. of line ) (III) + man
1. : a soldier of the line
2. : lineman 2
3. : an official who assists a referee especially in various goal and net games: as
a. : a lawn tennis official who decides whether a ball falls inside or outside of the line or lines he is assigned to watch
b. : a football official whose duties include marking the distance gained or lost in the progress of each play, observing defensive holding of eligible forward pass receivers, marking the point where the ball goes out-of-bounds, and noting violations of the scrimmage formation
c. : a soccer official who assists the referee in deciding where and when a ball is out-of-bounds and which team is entitled to a kick-in, goal kick, or corner kick
d. : a touch judge in rugby
e. : either of two volleyball officials who are stationed at diagonally opposite corners of the court to assist the referee in determining out-of-bounds balls and illegal serves
f. : either of two officials assigned especially to determine off side violations at the zone lines and at center in professional ice hockey
4. : loftsman ; especially : one who specializes in laying down full-size line plans of ships