Touchlines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The lines defining the outer edges of a sports field, especially in games like soccer or rugby
2. Boundary lines on either side of a playing field that mark the limits within which the game is played
3. The lines extending along the length of the field that determine play area limits for various team sports

Etymology: "Touchlines" is the plural of "touchline," which is a compound of "touch" and "line." The sense here is the boundary lines running along the long sides of a football or rugby pitch, the lines that mark where play goes out of bounds. The "touch" element refers to the ball or player going out of play, so the lines are where a ball is said to have touched the outer edge of the field. Because the plural is simply the regular form, the historical story lies entirely in the two parts of the compound. "Touch" and "line" are both ordinary English words with long histories of their own, and their joining produced a plainly descriptive term for the sidelines of a pitch. The compound is transparent, so its meaning can be read straight from its parts.