line of scrimmage


noun Football.

an imaginary line parallel to the goal lines that passes from one sideline to the other through the point of the football closest to the goal line of each team.

Origin of line of scrimmage

First recorded in 1905–10

British Dictionary definitions for line of scrimmage

line of scrimmage

noun

American football an imaginary line, parallel to the goal lines, on which the ball is placed at the start of a down and on either side of which the offense and defense line up