Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Football One of the running backs positioned to the sides behind the quarterback when the ball is snapped.
  • noun Sports One of several players stationed behind the forward line, as in soccer or Rugby.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See back, n., 12.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Football) A person who plays the position of halfback{2} on a football team.
  • noun The position of either of two players on a football team who typically begins each play behind the line and on either side of the quarterback.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun American football An offensive back whose primary jobs are to carry the ball on running plays and to serve as a receiver or blocker on passing plays.
  • noun Canadian football A defensive back whose primary jobs are to cover the slotback on passing plays and prevent running plays from going to the outside.
  • noun field hockey A position in field hockey, with both offensive and defensive roles.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (American football) the position of a back on a football team
  • noun (football) the running back who plays the offensive halfback position

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I called a halfback pass, and Larry Keys threw a two-point conversion pass to Unglaub to win the game, 21–20.

    Called to Coach Bobby Bowden 2010

  • They should listen to Pearce - who stands at the crossroads of becoming the state's long-term halfback - and hear what this second chance means to him.

    AustralianIT.com.au | Top Stories 2010

  • They should listen to Pearce - who stands at the crossroads of becoming the state's long-term halfback - and hear what this second chance means to him.

    AustralianIT.com.au | Top Stories 2010

  • '' We definitely did it the hard way, we should have done that a lot easier, '' the recalled halfback said.

    The Canberra Times - Front Page 2010

  • The halfback was a revelation for Queensland this year, the heart and soul of the side, and he was sorely missed by the Wallabies when absent through injury at the start of the season.

    Stuff.co.nz - Stuff By PETER FITZSIMONS 2010

  • That means he must take the blame for calling a halfback option pass inside the red zone in the first quarter.

    NBC Dallas-Fort Worth - Top Stories 2010

  • That means he must take the blame for calling a halfback option pass inside the red zone in the first quarter.

    NBC Dallas-Fort Worth - Top Stories 2010

  • Schaub hooked up with Johnson for a 53-yard gain in the fourth quarter, then Houston oddly called a halfback pass on first-and-goal at the 5.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com 2009

  • Schaub hooked up with Johnson for a 53-yard gain in the fourth quarter, then Houston oddly called a halfback pass on first-and-goal at the 5.

    phillyBurbs.com: Home RSS feed 2009

  • Welsh coach Warren Gatland says the days of Wales "fearing" Australia are long gone while recalled halfback Dwayne Peel bought into the same theme yesterday when spruiking that

    AustralianIT.com.au | Top Stories 2009

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