Cornerbacks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Defensive players in American football who primarily cover receivers and defend against passes
2. Individuals responsible for tackling or preventing the advancement of opposing players in their designated area of the field
3. Athletes skilled in positioning and technique to defend against offensive pass plays while also having the ability to support run defense

Etymology: "Cornerbacks" is the plural of "cornerback," a noun for the defensive player in American football who guards the wide receivers near the sidelines. The term is built from two plain English words: "corner," meaning the angle where two lines or edges meet, and "back," a player stationed behind the front line of a team's defense. Put together, the name describes a defender posted at the edge of the field, guarding the corners where a receiver might try to break free. Because the term is a straightforward compound of everyday words, its history is simple: the sense of "back" as a defensive position came from the way early football formations lined up players behind the line, and "corner" was applied to the sideline area where those defenders worked.

Synonyms: defensive backs